CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Florida SouthWestern State Women's Basketball team will open the 2021 season as the #14 team in the Nation as released by the NJCAA Tuesday. The Bucs open the year ranked in the Top 20 for the fourth straight season.
FSW was 24-7 a season ago, reaching as high as #8 in the National Poll. The Bucs won their third straight Suncoast Conference Championship and qualified for the NJCAA Tournament for the second straight season and were set to head to Lubbock as the #10 seed in the tournament before it was ultimately cancelled.
Fans will see a new look FSW squad when the Bucs take the court for their season opener Wednesday as the Purple and Aqua saw 74% of it's point production leave in graduation at the end of the 2020 season. Leading a small returning group is Sheslanie Laureano who was a finalist for the World Exposure National Freshman of the Year a season ago when she averaged 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in an All-Conference year for the Bucs.
The Bucs will also be led by a new Head Coach in 2021 as Dr. Jerald Ellis moves over a spot on the bench to take the reins of the program after serving as an Assistant Coach the past four seasons.
Trinity Valley starts with the bullseye on their back at #1 followed by Northwest Florida at #2, South Plains at #3, Shelton State #4, and Chipola at #5. Four of the Bucs' first five opponents are ranked in the preseason poll with the afformentioned Northwest Florida and Chipola holding down top five spots and Gulf Coast State at #8 and Wallace State at #21.
FSW opens their season Wednesday at home in Suncoast Credit Union Arena at 5:00 when they take on Hillsborough. Fans are welcome to attend with tickets available at the Arena Box Office or at FSWBucs.com. Fans will be required to wear face coverings while enjoying the game and tickets have been sold on a socially distanced basis to give spectators and FSW personnel alike the safest atmosphere possible.