FORT MYERS, FLA.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers are in elite company in the NJCAA Division I ranks as they head to into 2019 as one of just three schools nationally to have both their women's and men's programs capture 15 wins before the start of the new year.
The FSW women are 15-2 heading into 2019, having won 11 straight dating back to mid-November. The Bucs are ranked 17th in the latest NJCAA Top 25 and have defeated their opponents by an average of 26.2 points per game on the campaign. FSW currently has four players averaging double figures for their high powered attack, led by Tina Stephens who has poured in 17.3 points per game on 53% shooting thus far.
The Buccaneer men are 15-1 on the year with their only loss of the season coming in the closing moments to then #1 Northwest Florida State in early December. FSW has climbed to #5 in the latest NJCAA Top 25 poll and is expected to continue their upward trend in the rankings once the first poll of 2019 is released, after a pair of top five foes suffered defeats over the break. While the Bucs sport the second best defensive team in the state, allowing just 66.8 points per game, they have also fared well on the offensive end, scoring 89.1 a night while being led by LSU signee Charles Manning Jr. who has dropped in 16.4 per contest.
The only other schools to boast a pair of 15 win teams are fellow FSCAA members in Tallahasse and Chipola.
The FSW women are back in action tonight at home as they take on Palm Beach State at 5:30 to open up their 2019 slate while the Buccaneer men take the floor again on Saturday when they open Suncoast Conference action on the road at St. Petersburg.