TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Putting up two of the top three single game scoring marks in program history last week, it came as little surprise Tuesday as Florida SouthWestern State guard Za'Nautica Downs was named the FCSAA Player of the Week.
Downs exploded in a pair of FSW wins, first going off for a school record 41 points in a win over Hillsborough on Wednesday and backing that up with a 34 point performance at home against Daytona State on Saturday.
Against the Hawks, Downs seemingly couldn't miss. Going 9-10 from the field in the first half and scoring 21 points and then coming out in the second half to score the first 9 points of the period before sealing up the record later in the contest. She finished 16-24 from the field and 7-11 from the three point line, dropping 41 in just 25 minutes of action. Back home Saturday against Daytona, she answered the call again, scoring 34 points and grabbing 5 rebounds while dishing out 4 assists as the Bucs came from behind to blow past the Falcons 94-78.
Downs leads the Bucs and ranks 5th in the state, averaging 18.2 points per game on the season. Like last week, when she has scored, she has scored in bunches, putting up eight 25+ point games and four 30+ point contests including last week.
Downs is the first Buc to win the award this season and first since Tina Stephens accomplished the feat in February of 2019. She will now be the FCSAA's nomination for NJCAA National Player of the Week which will be announced on Wednesday.
Downs and the Bucs are back in action on Wednesday in Suncoast Credit Union Arena when they host Elite Prep in a 5:30 tip.