FORT MYERS, Fla.- Jayla Murray continued her dominating play for the #23 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, putting up 23 points and 15 rebounds as the Bucs steamrolled the visiting Indian River Pioneers 62-33 to take a firm grip on the race for their fifth consecutive Conference Championship. 

 

If you are a fan of offense, the first half wasn't for you.  Both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket as the Bucs didn't get on the scoreboard until nearly five minutes into the contest and the two teams combined for just 17 points in the first 10 minutes with FSW leading Indian River 10-7 after one. 

 

It was 12-10 FSW with 7:47 remaining in the half when a bucket from Jayla Murray and a free throw from Shaniya Rose bumped the Bucs lead to five at 15-10.  A three from Murray with under 5:00 to go in the half upped the FSW lead to eight and a hook shot in the paint by Macarena Retamales gave them their first double digit lead of the game at 20-10 with 3:53 to go in the period.  Neither team scored again, in fact, Indian River failed to dent the scoreboard for the final 7:47 of the half as the Bucs went to the locker room with a 10 point lead at 20-10. 

 

A pair of early threes from Natalia Tondi to begin the third pushed the Bucs lead to 15 and they continued to add to it, going up 32-12 midway through after Tondi found Retamales for a triple of her own to give FSW a 20 point lead.  The Bucs went up by as many as 27 late in the period before settling for a 42-19 advantage after 30 minutes of play.  

 

The game finally found some pace in the fourth as the teams warmed up in the unseasonably cool Southwest Florida day, but Indian River was never able to slow the Bucs down enough to make a run as Tyshonne Tollie scored four straight to make it 51-25 midway through the fourth and Tashun Bryson scored five in the final minute to put the finishing touches on a 62-33 win for FSW. 

 

The Bucs set a new program record against an NJCAA opponent, holding the Pioneers to just 33 points and 16% shooting in the game.  After shooting just 30% themselves in the first, the Bucs heated up to 59% in the second half to finish the game at 46% overall and 41% from the three point line.  

 

Murray nearly outscored the Pioneers herself, finishing 9-15 shooting for 23 points while also ripping down a career high 15 rebounds for her third double-double in the past four games.

 

The Bucs improve to 17-4 overall with the victory while taking a stranglehold on the Southern Conference standings at 5-0, holding a two game lead plus the tiebreaker over Indian River with four games to go.  The Pioneers fall to 15-8 and 3-2 in league play with the loss.  

 

The Bucs are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Miami to take on the Sharks of Miami Dade in a 5:30 Southern Conference tilt.