FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading wire to wire in a 76-42 win over St. Petersburg in the two teams' 2024 Citrus Conference opener Monday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. 

 

The Bucs started the game with a three from Samantha Serrano and it was a sign of things to come for the next 40 minutes as FSW scored the first nine points of the ballgame and led it 16-4 at the first media timeout of the night. Eight different players scored for FSW in the first quarter as the Bucs got out to an 18-8 lead on the Titans at the end of one quarter of action. 

 

Back to back Serrano triples to begin the second quickly made it 24-8 FSW and they went on to score the first 14 points of the period to open up a 32-8 lead on St. Pete. The Bucs defense continued to suffocate the Titans in the second, yielding just three points to take a 36-11 lead into the break at half. 

 

An offensive rebound and putback from Ivy Brown midway through the third extended the Bucs lead to 48-19 and moments later Brown picked off a steal and threw it ahead to Sarah Owona for an early two to blow the lead open to 52-19 with 2:38 to go in the third. FSW scored seven of the final nine points of the period, including Sarah Decker scoring her first two collegiate points, to make it 59-21 Bucs at the end of three quarters of action. 

 

The Bucs threw it in cruise control in the fourth as a bucket from Delfina Cergneux made it 64-27 and a pair of three throws from Roksana Sajdak put FSW up 40 at 70-30 before they dribbled out a 76-42 win at the final horn.  

 

The Bucs defense was locked in, holding St. Pete to just 21% shooting while forcing 29 Titan turnovers.  Serrano led FSW with a game high 22 points while also picking off 7 steals and Owona notched her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bucs. 

 

FSW wins their third straight to improve to 5-3 on the year while winning their league opener.  St. Pete remains winless on the season at 0-9. 

 

The Bucs will have a quick turnaround for Citrus Conference game number two as they host #19 Eastern Florida Wednesday at home in Suncoast Credit Union Arena in a 5 PM tip.