Posted: Nov 09, 2023
TWIN FALLS, Idaho- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got out to a hot start in the cold mountain air of Idaho on Thursday afternoon as they took part in the Coca Cola Invitational in Twin Falls, putting up 20 points in the first quarter in their matchup with the North Idaho Cardinals. However, their offense sputtered from there, managing just 13 second half points and just four in the fourth quarter as they attempted a comeback, ultimately falling 65-48 to the Cardinals to fall to 1-2 on the year.
It was an entertaining first quarter in the CSI Gymnasium as the Bucs and Cardinals both came out hot with Federica Lagana picking North Idaho's pocket and turning it into an easy two to put FSW up 10-4 to begin the game before the Cardinals used the long ball to get back in the game, tying the game up at 16 moments later. The Bucs and Cards continued trading blows over the final four minutes of the first, but FSW left a number of points at the free throw line and therefore settled for a three point deficit at the end of one 23-20.
A three from Makenna Shaffer midway through the second got the Bucs back to within one before a pair of free throws from the freshman put the Bucs back on top 32-31 with 4:05 to go in the half. The lead was short lived though as North Idaho drained a three to regain the advantage on their next possession and carried a five point lead into the locker rooms at the break at 40-35.
The pace slowed as the second half began with it remaining a five point game until a hustle steal from Lagana turned into an easy layup for Sarah Owona to get the Bucs back to within three at 42-39. The Bucs didn't score again for the next 5:06, watching as the Cardinals built up a nine point lead at 48-39 with 2:02 to go in the period. The Bucs continued to fight as a three from Roksana Sajdak and a finish on the inside from Georgi Buzzetti drew FSW back to within five with under a minute to go in the quarter. The Bucs had a huge opportunity to make it a one possession game in the closing seconds of the third as North Idaho gifted them a turnover, but FSW gave it right back and the Cards made them pay with a three at the buzzer to turn what could have been a three point game into an eight point game at 52-44 at the end of three.
The fourth was one to forget for the Bucs as North Idaho quickly pushed their lead to a dozen while FSW struggled to find any rhythm on the offensive side of the court. The Bucs went scoreless over the first 6:54 of the quarter as their deficit ballooned to 19 and needed a layup in the closing seconds of the game to keep from being kept without a field goal in the period as North Idaho dribbled out a 65-48 win.
The Bucs finished the afternoon shooting 32% from the field after a first quarter that saw them shoot 55%. Both teams struggled from the free throw line with FSW hitting just 59% of their chances, but North Idaho failing to hit the 50% mark at 6-13. Turnovers also hurt FSW as the Bucs coughed it up 23 times leading to 26 points for the Cardinals in the loss.
Shaffer led FSW with 16 points and 7 rebounds while Lisa Le Roy added 11 points and 7 boards for the Bucs. Lagana put forth her best effort on the defensive end, racking up a career high 6 steals which ties for the 10th most in a single game in program history.
The Bucs fall to 1-2 on the year with the defeat while North Idaho earns their first win to improve to 1-2.
FSW will look to get back on track on Friday when they take on Yavapai out of Arizona at 1 PM (MT) on day two of the tournament.
