MELBOURNE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers played toe to toe with the #22 Eastern Florida State Titans Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, but came up just short, dropping a 58-55 decision in Citrus Conference action. 

 

The Bucs and Titans traded the game's first 12 points before a three from Ashley Lester gave FSW a 9-6 lead five minutes into the contest. A bucket from Kiana Wilson pushed the Bucs lead to five, but Eastern closed the quarter on a 13-0 run to take a 19-11 lead at the end of 10 minutes of action.  

 

Eastern rolled their momentum into the second quarter, upping their lead to 10 before a 12-2 run for FSW capped by a jumper from Roksana Sajdak leveled the score at 30 with 2:00 remaining in the first half.  The Bucs didn't stop there, scoring the final five points of the period to storm to the locker room with a 35-30 lead in hand.  

 

The Bucs couldn't get anything going early in the third, going without a field goal over the first 5:45 as their lead evaporated and Eastern took a 40-37 lead of their own. Wilson knifed through the lane with 1:55 left in the third to score and even the score at 44 before a late Titan free throw gave Eastern Florida a 45-44 lead at the end of 30 minutes of play. 

 

Eastern came out on fire in the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to double digits at 56-46 just 4:30 into the period. The Bucs didn't quit though, slowly creeping back into the game with a three from Lisa Le Roy to cut it to a three point game with under a minute to go.  The Bucs got a defensive stop and had a chance to tie the game with time winding down, but their game tying attempt was blocked and Eastern walked away with a 58-55 victory. 

 

Wilson and LeRoy combined for 25 points in the loss while Lester joined them in double figures with 10. No other stats were available at time of release. 

 

Eastern Florida improves to 10-3 with the win and remains unbeaten in Citrus Conference play at 5-0 while the Bucs fall to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in league action. 

 

The Bucs will be back in action next Saturday at home when they host Hillsborough in a noon tip off from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.