FORT MYERS, Fla.- In one of the top NJCAA Women's Basketball matchups of the night, the #14 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers outlasted the #22 Eastern Florida State Titans 77-76 Wednesday night at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.  

 

After duking it out for 40 minutes earlier this season in Melbourne, it was obvious early on Wednesday that this one was going to be the same type of game.  Eastern jumped out in front to start, but FSW quickly answered, tying the game at 9 midway through the first quarter.  Eastern scored the next seven to take their largest lead of the game with 2:58 to go in the first, but again the Bucs answered back, scoring 8 of the final 12 points to close the quarter, cutting the Titan lead to just 20-17 after 10 minutes of action.  

 

A pair of quick buckets from Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins gave the Bucs their first lead of the night early in the second and they held that lead to the midway point of the period before a Za'Nautica Downs three from NBA range stretched their lead to five at 28-23.  Another three from Downs later in the quarter cushioned their lead to six, but the hardnosed Titans trimmed the FSW lead down to just two before the half at 38-36.  

 

Eastern shot 53% in the half while FSW shot 44%, but the Bucs dominated the glass, outrebounding the Titans 30-17 in the first 20 minutes of action.  Downs led the Bucs with 11 first half points while Nairimar Vargas-Reyes chipped in 8 and 7 rebounds.  

 

The Bucs came out of the locker rooms at half on fire, quickly stretching their lead to double digits as Simone Lett connected on a jumper and then Downs cashed in her fourth three of the night to make it 54-44 FSW with 4:12 to go in the third.  The Bucs eventually stretched the lead to 12 before Eastern cut back into it in the final moments of the period to make it a 58-53 game in favor of FSW after three.  

 

A driving layup from Vargas-Reyes early in the fourth pushed the FSW lead back to 10 and it looked like the Bucs were in the clear, leading 65-55 with 7:27 to go. Not so fast said the Titans as they worked their way back into the contest before making it a one possession game at 71-68 with 2:52 remaining.  A big three point play from Sheslanie Laureano got the Bucs lead back to six moments later, but a pair of clutch threes from Eastern Florida had it back to a two point game with 1:59 left.  With time winding down, the Titans nailed two big free throws to tie the game at 76 and on the ensuing throw in, FSW was fouled, sending Vargas-Reyes to the line for two shots.  With ice in her veins, she nailed the first one to put the Bucs back up 77-76, but her second was off the mark.  Instead of calling timeout, the Titans decided to play it out and that turned out to be a mistake as they threw a pass into traffic and the ball was pinballed around long enough near midcourt to see the clock expire with the Bucs hanging on for a one point victory. 

 

Four of the Bucs five starters put up big numbers in the win.  Downs scored a game high 30 points on 11 of 25 from the field and 7 of 13 from three point land while also hauling in 7 rebounds for the Bucs.  Three FSW players registered double-doubles as Laureano finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Vargas-Reyes with 13 points and 11 boards and Lett with 10 points and 12 caroms.  

 

The win is a big one for FSW in the Suncoast Conference standings as they take a full two game lead, with the tiebreaker with three games to go, improving to 21-5 overall and 6-0 in league action.  The loss is a huge blow to Eastern's conference title hopes as they drop to 20-6 overall and 4-2 in conference action.  

 

The Bucs are back in action for their final Saturday home game of the year this weekend when they host St. Petersburg in a 2 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.