OCALA, FLA.- The #12 FSW Women's Basketball team earned a pair of wins at the Central Florida Classic over the weekend, knocking off Santa Fe 68-61 on Friday followed by an 86-73 victory against Broward on Saturday to improve to 4-1 on the year.
Friday against the Saints FSW got off to a good start to take a commanding 36-19 lead at halftime before watching Santa Fe roar back with a 35 point third quarter to make it a two point game at the end of three. But at the end of the day, the Bucs shored up their defense and held the Saints to just seven points in the fourth quarter to come away with a 68-61 win.
On an otherwise cold shooting afternoon, the Bucs got big efforts from both Simone Lett and Za'Nautica Downs in the win. Lett notched her second straight 20 point game with 21 and also corralled a team best six rebounds for FSW while Downs poured in 20 and had a team high five steals. Tina Stephens led the Bucs off the bench with 12 and also finished with five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Saturday the Bucs took to the court looking for revenge as they opposed the only team that has knocked them off in 2018-19 in the Broward Seahawks.
For the second straight day, FSW had their way in the first half, opening up an 18-12 lead after one and a 42-26 lead at the half against the Seahawks. The teams traded blows in a high scoring second half, but the Bucs held on for a double digit win 86-73.
Nairimar Vargas-Reyes busted out with a career game, scoring a career best 23 and hauling in a career high 11 rebounds for the Bucs. Vargas-Reyes finished 14-15 from the free throw line in the win, which marked the second most free throws made in a game in school history. Downs added 22 while Stephens took advantage of her first start of the season with 18 points.
FSW improves to 4-1 with the wins and will take the floor again on Friday when they travel to Daytona to take on DME Academy in a 5:30 tip.