Posted: Mar 02, 2024
FORT PIERCE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put together their second best shooting night of the season Saturday on the road against the Indian River State Pioneers, hitting 56% of their shots from the field and 42% from the three point line, but they couldn't overcome their most turnovers since the opening game of the season as they fell 89-86 in overtime to give the Pioneers the season series between the two.
There was hardly any separation between the two sides during the entire 40 minutes of regulation as it was Indian River leading by one midway through the first quarter before FSW outscored the Pioneers by one over the final five minutes of the period to tie the score at 19-19 at the end of one.
The teams traded baskets and the lead again in the second as neither team held more than a four point advantage and found themselves level at the end of 20 minutes of action as they went to the locker rooms at 42 a side.
It was an entertaining third quarter out of the break as once again the Bucs and Pioneers traded punches to a 55-55 tie with 4:00 to go in the period before Indian River pushed ahead by two at the end of three 61-59.
Ivy Brown finished a three point play at the basket to put the Bucs back in front 69-67, but the Pioneers answered back and retied the game on their next possession. The game went into the final minute of regulation tied at 80 and neither team could come up with a bucket on their final trips down the court and the game went to overtime deadlocked at 80.
The Bucs fell behind early in overtime, but they didn't stop fighting. A three point play from Federica Lagana followed by a three from Makenna Shaffer tied the score back up at 86 with 2:30 to go. Unfortunately for the Bucs, that would be the last time they scored as they turned the ball over twice and missed a pair of shots in the paint in the final two minutes, ultimately falling by three 89-86 at the final horn.
The Bucs shot 56% from the field and 42% from the three point line, but couldn't overcome 26 turnovers in the contest. Brown led the way with a career high 24 points on 9-15 shooting while also adding a team high 11 rebounds while Kiana Wilson added 16 and Shaffer chipped in 15.
FSW falls to 15-13 overall and 11-9 in Citrus Conference play with the loss while Indian River improves to 18-11 overall and 12-8 in league play. FSW falls to 4th place in the league standings with the loss which is where they will be locked unless they can put together a win in their finale Monday and Miami Dade comes up with an upset over Hillsborough. Indian River, who wins the season tiebreaker over FSW with the victory can finish no worse than 3rd.
The Bucs close out the regular season on Monday when they host Daytona State at 5 PM in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Prior to the game, the Bucs will honor their three sophomores playing in their final home games in Fort Myers on Monday.