FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got off to a good start Wednesday night in their 2023 Citrus Conference home opener, holding a one point lead at the end of the first quarter and a four point lead at the half against Indian River, but the second half was a different story as the Bucs shot just 30% from the field and were 2-13 from the three point line as they watched their lead evaporate and the Pioneers come from behind for a 66-60 win to drop FSW to 5-5 on the year.  

 

In a matchup of two of the last three unbeatens in Citrus Conference action, it was FSW who got out to an early lead as Makenna Shaffer knocked down a jumper and Kiana Wilson found a hole in the defense for two to put the Bucs on top 11-6 midway through the first quarter.  A pair of threes from Indian River got the Pioneers back in the game but a late bucket from Wilson gave the Bucs a 16-15 lead at the end of an exciting quarter of action.  

 

A three from Shaffer early in the second upped the Bucs lead to four and moments later a triple from Ashley Lester gave FSW their largest lead of the game at 31-21 with 5:18 to go in the half. Just when it looked like the Bucs had things cooking, they went cold.  The Bucs went scoreless for over three minutes and without a field goal for four minutes as Indian River worked their way back into the game at 32-30 with just over 1:00 left in the half. A smooth turnaround from Shaffer broke the drought and the Bucs defense held from there as FSW went to the break leading the Pioneers 34-30. 

 

Indian River quickly tied the game at 36 as the second half got underway, but another high arching three from Lester put the Bucs back in front 39-36 with 5:50 to go in the quarter.  The Bucs and Pioneers continue to go back and forth until late in the period when an FSW turnover led to an easy two for Indian River to give the Pioneers a 49-48 lead at the end of three quarters of play.  

 

A pair of threes early in the fourth by the Pioneers padded Indian River's lead to six at 59-53 before Shaffer connected on a midrange jumper to get the Bucs back to within four with 5:05 remaining in regulation. Just when they needed a final push down the home stretch, the Bucs ran out of gas, missing their next eight field goal attempts and going scoreless over the next 4:08 as Indian River built their largest lead of the game at 66-55.  FSW got the last five points of the game in the final minute, but it was too little, too late as Indian River dribbled out a 66-60 win to hand the Bucs their first loss of Citrus Conference play.  

 

The Bucs shot just 35% in the contest marking their eighth straight game shooting under 40%.  Three players scored in double figures as Lester led the way with 18 on 6-11 shooting while Wilson went for 17 and Shaffer finished with a 14 point, 12 rebound double-double. 

 

FSW falls to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in Citrus Conference play with the defeat while Indian River improves to 7-3 overall and remains unbeaten in conference action at 3-0. 

 

The Bucs wrap up a busy first week of conference play on Saturday at home in Suncoast Arena when they host Hillsborough in a 2 PM matinee tip in Fort Myers.