BRADENTON, FLA.- Most college basketball teams are thrilled if they are able to reach 20 wins in any particular season. The #13 Florida SouthWestern State Women's Basketball team accomplished that Wednesday with a 104-82 victory over IMG Academy, and they still have a third of their season remaining on the schedule at 20-2.
The Bucs traded punches with the Ascenders early on and found themselves in a tight ballgame for most of the first quarter before getting a last second bucket to take a 27-19 lead after one.
FSW continued to have their way on the offensive end in the second, but the Bucs struggled to slow down IMG's attack on the other end, again needing a last second shot to fall to extend their lead to double digits as the teams headed to the half at 51-40.
The third was easily the Bucs best defensive quarter of the contest as they held IMG to just 16 points as they extended their lead to 74-56.
The fourth was a shootout for both sides as the two combined for 56 points in 10 entertaining minutes with the game well in hand for the Bucs. FSW did enough to finish the Ascenders off 104-82 to earn their 20th win of the year.
The Bucs top the 100 point mark for the ninth time during their current 16 game win streak. FSW got multiple incredible individual efforts in the victory. Za'Nautica Downs notched her third straight 20 point game as she tied her career high with 28 to lead the way for the Bucs. Tina Stephens just missed a triple-double, scoring 23 points, hauling in 11 rebounds, and dishing out a game high 7 assists. Shondell Vickers continued her strong play on the inside with her third double-double in four games with 22 points and 10 boards, and Tonysha Curry put up a huge 19 rebound game, to go along with her 8 points for FSW.
FSW improves to 20-2 on the year, easily their quickest path to 20 since the program came back in 2016.
The Bucs will take the court again on Saturday when they host Eastern Florida State in Suncoast Conference action at 2 PM in Suncoast Credit Union Arena.