MIAMI, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got back on the winning track on Wednesday night in Miami, knocking off the Miami Dade Sharks 73-51 behind 22 points from Macarena Retamales and a 12 point, 11 rebound double-double from Blessing King.  

 

Coming off of a disappointing loss at home to Indian River on Saturday, the Bucs got off to a bit of a slow start on Wednesday against Miami Dade, managing just six points through the first five minutes of the contest as they trailed 7-6.  Kiana Wilson came in off the bench and gave the Bucs an instant spark, scoring four points to put the Bucs back on top and to start a 10-0 run that helped give them a 17-9 lead at the end of one quarter of play. 

 

It was another reserve to get the Bucs going in the second as Juliana Gomez made her presence felt with a pair of mid range jumpers to push their lead to 10 at 31-21 and at the break it was FSW leading Miami Dade 33-25. 

 

The Bucs put the Sharks away in the third as Macarena Retamales starting cooking, pouring in eight points in the period as FSW opened up their largest lead of the game at 58-40 at the end of three. 

 

A three from the top of the key from Natalia Tondi made it a 19 point game in favor of FSW midway through the fourth and the Bucs finished the Sharks off 73-51 for their 11^th win of the year. 

 

The Bucs shot 44% from the field in the win, led by Retamales who scored a game high 22 while also pulling down 8 rebounds. Blessing King posted her third career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Tondi joined the two in double figures with 10. 

 

FSW improves to 11-6 overall and 1-1 in Southern Conference play with the victory while Miami Dade's struggles continue as they fall to 4-17 overall and 1-1 in league play. 

 

The Bucs jump out of conference real quick on Friday when they go to Lake Worth to play Palm Beach State before returning home and to conference play on Monday when they take on Hillsborough in a 5 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.