Posted: Mar 03, 2023
LAKE WORTH, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got off to a good start and never looked back Friday afternoon in Lake Worth, blowing past the Palm Beach State Panthers 76-58 to close out the regular season 19-8.
It was all Bucs in the first quarter as Natalia Tondi and Macarena Retamales poured in a combined 16 points to push FSW out to a 26-11 lead that they would never relinquish.
In the second quarter it was a new duo that took over for the Bucs, this time Blessing King and Aaliyah Williams who had their way with the Panthers in the paint to the tune of 14 points between the two of them to take a commanding 50-23 lead into the locker rooms at the break.
Usually a good third quarter team, the Bucs came out slow in the second half on Friday as Palm Beach outscored them 18-14 to cut into their lead to 64-41 at the end of three.
The Bucs bench took them to the finish line as six different players had a field goal in the fourth quarter as FSW dribbled out a 76-58 win at the final horn.
Nine different players scored for the Bucs in the win led by Tondi with 17 and King with 12.
The Bucs wrap up the regular season at 19-8 while Palm Beach drops to 14-12.
FSW will open up postseason play on Wednesday in Niceville when they take on #9 Gulf Coast State in the first round of the NJCAA Region VIII Tournament beginning at 4 PM (EST).