Kiana Wilson (Photo by Roy Allen)
Posted: Nov 11, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- It wasn't always pretty for the #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Friday night in their 2022-2023 home opener in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, but they got it done, taking down the visiting John A. Logan Lady Vols 72-53 to remain unbeaten on the early season.
The Bucs got off to a good start playing in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, jumping out to a 7-2 lead on the visiting John A. Logan Lady Vols midway through the first quarter. Logan fought back though, cutting the Bucs lead to just one at 11-10 before a late driving layup from Macarena Retamales put FSW up three at the end of one, 16-13.
The Lady Vols took their first lead of the game early in the second quarter and the two teams went back and forth, taking turns with the lead until a pair of steal and scores from Federica Lagana highlighted an 8-0 run into the locker rooms to give the Bucs a 42-37 lead at the half.
John A. Logan got it back to within two at 44-42 two minutes into the third quarter, but the Lady Vols went ice cold as FSW held them off the board over the final 7:55 of the period while going on a 10-0 run to take a dozen point advantage at 54-42 at the end of three.
The Bucs started opening things up in the fourth quarter as All-American Jayla Murray started to get going, stretching their lead to 19 at 66-49 with 5:08 to go. The teams traded points over the final five minutes of the contest, but with the game well in hand, that was enough for the Bucs as they coasted to the finish line for a 72-53 win to stay unbeaten on the season.
FSW crushed Logan in two spots, on the break, and in the paint. The Bucs outscored the Lady Vols 30-5 in transition and 58-24 on points in the paint in the victory. The Bucs shot 43% in the win while holding John A. Logan to under 30% on the night while forcing 23 Lady Vol turnovers. Retamales led the Bucs with 15 points while Murray and Kiana Wilson each had a dozen.
The Bucs improve to 3-0 on the year with the win while John A. Logan falls to 1-2.
The win sets up an undefeated vs. undefeated matchup on Saturday in Suncoast Arena as the #17 Bucs will battle #6 Southern Idaho at 5:00 PM in a battle of 3-0 squads.
