FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #11 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers bounced back from a rare loss in a big way Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, thumping the visiting Odessa Wranglers 85-61 behind six different players scoring in double figures.  

 

The first quarter was back and forth as an early 8-0 run for FSW pushed them out to a 12-5 lead midway through the period before Odessa stormed back with six straight of their own to cut the Bucs lead to one at 12-11 with 3:25 left in the quarter.  A three from Natalia Tondi cushioned the Bucs lead to four and a late bucket from Macarena Retamalaes made it a six point lead after one at 24-18.  

 

Back to back three point plays from Violette Skipworth early in the second gave the Bucs their first double digit lead of the game at 30-20 and a pair of jumpers from Tashun Bryson later in the period put FSW up a dozen, 38-26 with 5:05 remaining in the half. The Bucs dominated the final five minutes of the half, pushing their lead all the way to 48-30 as the teams went to the locker rooms at the break. 

 

Tondi found Retamales for an easy two and then picked off a steal and scored to give FSW a 22 point lead early in the third.  Odessa put together one more run, trimming the Bucs lead to 12 at the end of three. 

 

The Wranglers continued their push into the fourth, getting back to within seven with under 9:00 to go before a pair of buckets from Tyshonne Tollie gave FSW some breathing room at 71-60 with 4:04 remaining. The Bucs threw it in cruise control from there, storming to the finish line and closing out an 85-61 win at the final horn.  

 

Six different players scored in double figures for the Bucs, led by Sariana Rodriguez who put up 19 on 8-14 shooting. Tondi filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals while Skipworth and Bryson combined for 21 off the FSW bench in the win. 

 

The Bucs improve to 8-2 on the year with the victory while Odessa falls to 2-8. 

 

FSW will close out the Rudloph's Roundup Tournament at Suncoast Arena on Sunday when they battle Gulf Coast State in a 4 PM tip.