Posted: Dec 03, 2021
FORT MYERS, Fla.- For the sixth time in eight games, the #12 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers held their opponent to under 50 points Friday night as they locked down the Daytona State Falcons for a 73-45 win to move to 7-1 on the year.
The Bucs got off to another good start Friday, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on three straight baskets off of turnovers. Daytona finally got on the board 3:30 in, but a pair of FSW threes from Sariana Rodriguez and Macarena Retamales quickly pushed the Bucs lead to 12-3 midway through the quarter. Another triple from Retamales closed out the period for the Bucs, giving FSW a 17-7 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Daytona opened the second on an 8-2 run to cut the Bucs lead to just four, but FSW scored the next nine to stretch their lead back out to 28-15. The Bucs controlled the tempo for the final four minutes, bumping their lead to as many as 15 before heading to the half up 34-20.
FSW came out ready to go in the third, pushing their lead to 20 for the first time in the game when Tashun Bryson knocked down a jumper following another Buccaneer steal. Daytona found their footing, but Jayla Murray answered right back for FSW with back to back buckets to end the period, cushioning the Bucs lead to 53-36 after three quarters of action.
The Bucs continued to put it on the Falcons in the fourth as Retamales drained a three and then Rodriguez pulled up for a deep triple of her own to make it a 67-41 game with 4:10 to go. Daytona never threatened in the final five minutes as the Bucs stretched their lead to as many as 30 before finishing the Falcons off 73-45 at the final horn.
Defense was the name of the game for the Bucs in the win as they held Daytona to just 30% shooting and forced 23 Falcon turnovers, turning them into 30 points on the night. On the other side of the ball the Bucs were led by Retamales who poured in 19 to go along with 7 steals and Murray who finished with 14 points, 12 coming in a big second half.
FSW wins their seventh straight to improve to 7-1 on the year while Daytona falls to 5-3.
The Bucs will have a week to enjoy their win before returning home next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when they host Rudolph's Roundup in Suncoast Arena in Fort Myers.
