Posted: Dec 11, 2024
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The #20 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers used a spirited defensive effort and another balanced scoring attack for their sixth straight win Wednesday night on the road in Jacksonville, defeating Florida State College at Jacksonville 67-50 to improve to 8-3 on the year.
Offense was at a premium early on as the Bucs and Manta Rays tried to find a pace of their liking in the first quarter. The Bucs managed just 14 first quarter points, but were able to hold FSCJ to four field goals in the first 10 minutes to take a 14-9 lead at the end of one quarter of play.
The Bucs came out on fire in the second quarter on the back of Sarah Owona who scored the first eight points of the period to bump the FSW lead to 22-9. The Bucs went cold from there though as the Manta Rays outscored them 14-10 over the final eight minutes of the half to trim the FSW lead back to single digits at 32-23.
FSW came at the Manta Rays from all angles to begin the second half as six different players found their way into the scorebook as they upped their lead to 49-32.
FSCJ had their best stretch of the game early in the fourth, cutting the Bucs lead down to 11 at one point to make things interesting, but it was too little, too late for the Manta Rays as FSW finished things off 67-50 for their sixth consecutive win.
It was a balanced offensive effort once again for FSW as four players scored in double figures led by Samantha Serrano with 15 and Sarah Owona with 14.
The Bucs win their sixth straight game to improve to 8-3 on the year while FSCJ falls to 7-4.
FSW returns to Citrus Conference play on Saturday when they host Santa Fe in Suncoast Credit Union Arena in a 2 PM tip.