FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #14 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers picked up their 20th win of the season Wednesday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, blowing away the visiting Florida National Conquistadors 94-40.
Za'Nautica Downs and Nairimar Vargas-Reyes got the Bucs going early, combining for all of FSW's first 13 points of the game to get them out to a 13-2 lead. Eventually the Bucs upped their lead to 17-2 before taking a 28-10 advantage after one quarter of play.
FSW got off to a slow start in the second as Florida National actually cut into their lead midway through the quarter, but the Bucs finished the period on a 15-2 run, opening it up to a 47-18 contest after 20 minutes of play.
The Bucs shot 49% from the field in the first half while holding the Conquistadors to just 25% shooting and forcing FNU into 16 turnovers which they turned into 20 points.
Florida National scored the first two points of the second half, but things got out of hand after that. The Bucs scored 19 of the next 21 points, with six different players getting in on the scoring action, to blow the game wide open at 66-22 with 4:08 to play in the third. The Conqs then made their run, outscoring the Bucs 12-2 to close the quarter, but it was still all FSW after three with the Bucs leading 68-34.
The Bucs poured it on in the fourth, taking a 50 point lead midway through as Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins connected on a jumper before eventually putting FNU away 94-40 for their 20th win of the year.
Five different players scored in double figures for the Bucs led by Downs with 14 and Sheslanie Laureano with 13. Overall FSW shot 48% from the field and held the Conquistadors to just 29% shooting while forcing 25 turnovers which turned into 32 points. The Bucs outscored the Conqs 50-5 in transition and the FSW bench outscored FNU's one person bench 42-0.
The Bucs improve to 20-5 on the year, marking the fourth straight season since their respawn that FSW has reached the 20 win plateau.
FSW is back in action next Wednesday at home in Suncoast Credit Union Arena when they take on #22 Eastern Florida State in a key Suncoast Conference matchup starting at 5:30.
