NICEVILLE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got off to a red hot start Friday afternoon in the FCSAA State Tournament Semifinals against #6 Northwest Florida State, but an ice cold third quarter and a slow start to the fourth did them in in a 69-60 loss to the Raiders to bring their 2022-2023 season to an end.  

 

Neither team could miss to start the game as it was quickly 9-9 less than three minutes into the game.  A three from the top of the key from Aaliyah Williams gave the Bucs a three point advantage and another triple moments later from Natalia Tondi kept the Bucs in front 17-15 midway through the quarter. Things slowed down a bit from there as Northwest got 8 of the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 23-20 lead at the end of an exciting first 10 minutes of action. 

 

Williams continued nearly single handedly keeping the Bucs in the game as the second quarter got underway, scoring three straight buckets to put FSW back in front 28-27. The Raiders made a push to retake a 35-31 lead when Shaniya Rose drilled a three from the wing and Macarena Retamales made a scoop shot layup to put the Bucs back on top 36-35 with 2:46 to go in the half. Northwest got a late three and FSW finished on the inside before the horn drawing both teams even at 38 at the half.  

 

The second half didn't get off to quite the same start for the Bucs as FSW managed just two points through the first 8:21 of the period with Northwest Florida opening up their largest lead of the game at 54-40 in the process. Williams hit a three and Kiana Wilson finished a tough drive in traffic late in the period, but there was still work to do for the Bucs in the fourth as they trailed the Raiders 57-45 at the end of three quarters of play. 

 

The Bucs needed a quick start to the fourth to get back in it, but unfortunately the opposite occurred.  Northwest Florida scored the first five points of the period, opening up a 17 point advantage with 8:00 to go.  A three from Retamales got the Bucs back on track and an offensive rebound and putback moments later from Blessing King had FSW back to within 11 at 67-56 with 3:28 remaining.  The Bucs had multiple chances to draw within single digits, but they couldn't connect, going empty on their next eight possessions as Northwest dribbled out a 69-60 win at the final horn. 

 

The Bucs shot just 33% in the contest while Northwest Florida hit on 59% from the field. The Bucs turned it over five less times than the Raiders did, but weren't able to take advantage of that as FSW got just 16 points off of 20 NWF turnovers and the Raiders scored 21 off the Bucs 15.  

 

Williams finished with 19 points on 8-23 shooting while Retamales had 15 on 5-14 from the field.  King pulled down a game high 16 rebounds including 7 on the offensive end in the defeat.  

 

FSW finishes the season 20-9 while Northwest Florida advances to the FCSAA State Championship Game Saturday with a record of 25-3.