FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers couldn't find any rhythm on the offensive end of the floor, shooting just 32% from the field and turning it over 20 times in a  72-63 loss to Santa Fe Saturday afternoon at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. 

 

The Bucs got off to a slow start, managing just one basket over the first five minutes of action as Santa Fe got out to an early 7-2 lead. The Bucs got the next four points from there, but their momentum was short lived as Santa Fe went on a 9-0 run over the next 3:55 to open up their biggest lead of the quarter at 16-6 with under a minute to go in the first. Ashley Lester completed a rare four point play and Lisa Le Roy got a steal and score to get the Bucs back to within six at the end of the first at 18-12. 

 

Santa Fe opened the second quarter by scoring the first six points of the period to take a 12 point lead and continued to lead it by double digits at 32-22 as the clock ticked under three minutes to go in the half. Le Roy found Ivy Brown on a cut for an old fashioned three point play and Federica Lagana picked a Saint pocket and scored to make it an eight point game at the break 37-29. 

 

Makenna Shaffer hit a three right out of the break for the Bucs and Ashley Lester followed suit to quickly make it a two point game less than a minute in.  Moments later a high arching three from Lester leveled the score at 41 but Santa Fe got the next eight to push back ahead 49-41 with three minutes to go in the third.  Shaffer drilled two more threes to get the Bucs right back in it before a bucket at the buzzer for the Saints made it a 55-49 game as the teams headed to the fourth.  

 

The Bucs couldn't buy a bucket as the fourth quarter got underway, going without a field goal in the first six minutes and missing their first 12 shots of the period as Santa Fe stretched their lead to double digits at 60-50 with 4:00 to go. A Lester three got the Bucs back on track and they made it a three point game with under 2:00 left when Shaffer connected on her sixth three of the afternoon.  The Bucs got a block on the Saints next possession, but couldn't clear the glass and Santa Fe scooped up the rebound and scored to cushion the lead back to five.  The Bucs never recovered from there and the Saints would extend their lead before finishing off a 72-63 win. 

 

FSW shot just 32% in the contest while hitting on 26% of their season high 39 three point attempts. Shaffer led the Bucs with 21 points while Ivy Brown notched season highs in both points and rebounds with 17 and 14.  Lester also recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for FSW.  

 

The Bucs drop to 14-12 overall and 10-8 in Citrus Conference play while Santa Fe keeps their postseason hopes alive as they improve to 13-13 overall and 8-10 in conference action. 

 

FSW will look to get on track Wednesday when they go on the road to take on the Miami Dade Sharks in a 5:30 tip.