Posted: Jan 03, 2024
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers began 2024 the exact same way they closed out 2023, grinding out a low scoring victory Wednesday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Despite shooting under 30% on the night, the Bucs dominated the glass, posting a +24 on the boards for a 58-48 win over the visiting Hillsborough Hawks to improve to 3-1 in Citrus Conference action.
The Bucs got off to a slow start, going scoreless over the first four minutes of the contest as they fell in an early 6-0 hole. Hillsborough continued to lead three minutes later until five straight points from Lisa Le Roy in front of her family in attendance from Belgium gave FSW their first lead of the game at 10-8 with 2:17 to go in the first. The Bucs held Hillsborough without a field goal for the final three minutes of the period to take a 13-9 lead at the end of one quarter of action.
A nearly three minute scoring drought for the Bucs early in the second allowed the Hawks to regain the lead, but an old fashioned three point play from Kiana Wilson midway through the period knotted the score back up at 18. That's when sharpshooter Ashley Lester started getting hot, drilling back to back threes to put the Bucs in front 24-21 and then canning another triple later in the period to cushion the FSW lead to seven at 28-21 with 2:44 to go in the half. A steal and score from Federica Lagana gave the Bucs their largest lead of the half before a late free throw from the Hawks cut it back to a seven point game at 31-24 at the break.
The Bucs got off to a quick start out of the half, opening up a 13 point lead as Le Roy grabbed a rebound and went coast to coast for two. A three moments later from Roksana Sajdak made it a 15 point game and a tough two from Makenna Shaffer blew the game wide open to 46-29 with 3:04 to go in the third. Hillsborough went on a run late in the third to get back to within striking distance before Shaffer beat the third quarter buzzer for two to make it 52-39 FSW at the end of three.
The Bucs and Hawks played even through the first five minutes of the fourth as FSW remained comfortably in front 55-43 with under 5:00 to go in the contest. Neither team managed a bucket over the next three minutes, but that was fine by the Bucs as they continued to hold a 12 point advantage at 56-44 with time winding down. A late jumper by Shaffer put a bow on it for the Bucs as they dribbled out a 58-48 win to improve to 3-1 in conference play on the year.
It was a struggle for both sides offensively as FSW shot just 29% from the field while Hillsborough shot 31%. The difference came on the glass where FSW outrebounded the Hawks 63-39 including 25 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second chance points in the victory. Shaffer led three Bucs in double figures, posting a huge double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds while Wilson and Lester added 11 apiece.
FSW improves to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in Citrus Conference play with the win while Hillsborough drops under .500 at 5-6 overall and 1-3 in league action.
The win sets up a big matchup for the Bucs Saturday in Melbourne as they travel across the state to take on conference leading and 22nd ranked Eastern Florida in a 2 PM matinee. The Bucs return home on Saturday, January 13th when they play host to Hillsborough once again in a noon start from Suncoast Arena.
