FORT MYERS, Fla.- Offense was at a premium for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers in their 2023-2024 home opener on Friday night in Suncoast Arena as they shot just 29% and committed 20 turnovers in a 70-58 loss to the #20 Chipola Indians. 

 

After waiting a month from the start of the season to finally play in the friendly confines of Suncoast Credit Union Arena, the Bucs got off to a quick start on Friday as Makenna Shaffer nailed a three on FSW's first possession and one minute later Lisa Le Roy finished a three point play of her own to give the Bucs a 6-2 lead on the 20^th ranked Indians. The Bucs faltered to close the quarter though, going without a field goal over the final 3:45 as Chipola took a lead of their own and then opened that up to 17-10 at the end of 10 minutes of action. 

 

The Bucs struggles continued into the second as Chipola outscored FSW 12-2 over the first 3:32 of the period to blow their lead open to 29-12 with 6:28 remaining in the half. The Bucs found some footing, clawing back to within nine on two different occasions, but a late bucket from the Indians made it a 13 point game into the half at 41-28. 

 

The change of sides at half didn't change the Bucs luck as FSW went the first 4:17 of the third without a field goal as Chipola once again padded their lead to 17 at 48-31. Le Roy's second and-one finish at the rim drew the Bucs back to within a dozen with just under four minutes to go in the third but once again they couldn't sustain any sort of run as the Indians stretched their lead back out to 60-46 as the teams went to the fourth quarter.  

 

With their offense sputtering, the Bucs leaned on their defense in the fourth as they held Chipola without a point for the first 4:20 of the period while Sarah Owona connected on a long jumper to make it a single digit game for the first time since the first half at 60-51 midway through the quarter. Chipola scored the next four to stretch it back to a 13 point game and the final five minutes of the contest was marred with a rash of whistles on both sides as three FSW starters fouled out in the fourth quarter and two Indians were called for their fifth fouls as Chipola went on to win it 70-58. 

 

FSW shot just 29% overall and 15% from three in the loss while committing 20 turnovers that led to 22 Chipola points.  Kiana Wilson finished with a team high 16 for the Bucs including 10-11 from the free throw line in the loss while Owona chipped in 9 on 4-5 shooting off the FSW bench.  

 

FSW falls to 2-4 on the season with the loss while Chipola improves to 9-1. 

 

The Bucs won't have much time to lick their wounds as they will be right back at it Saturday at 2:00 PM in Suncoast Arena when they take on Western Wyoming to wrap up the FSW Classic. At halftime of the game, the 2023 FSW Softball team will receive their NJCAA National Championship Rings.