FORT MYERS, Fla.- A wild game of runs came with an even wilder finish Wednesday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as the visiting Hillsborough Hawks took a two point lead with :01 remaining on the clock just to see Samantha Serrano nail a three pointer at the buzzer to give the #14 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers a 66-65 win and keep FSW atop the Citrus Conference standings. 

 

FSW struggled in the first, managing just a single field goal through the first 5:51 of the game as they fell behind 15-5 to begin the contest. The Bucs finished the quarter going just 3-11 from the field while turning it over seven times, leading to 14 Hillsborough points off turnovers as they trailed the Hawks 21-12. 

 

Hillsborough popped a three right off the bat to begin the second to put FSW down a dozen at 24-12 and things weren't looking good for the conference leading Bucs.  A three from Samantha Serrano got the Bucs back on track and they would dig their heels in on the defensive end, holding Hillsborough to just four points over a 7:09 stretch to come all the way back and tie the game at 28 with 2:38 to go in the period. Neither team found a bucket in the final two and a half minutes into the half, going into the break deadlocked at 29. 

 

The Bucs took their first lead of the game on a Serrano three with 8:17 to go in the third and went up by four as Asiana Britt and Ivy Brown worked a perfectly executed give and go. The Bucs took control of the game, getting back to back threes from Britt to extend their lead to 10 at 49-39 and went up 55-42 at the end of three after Brown ripped down an offensive rebound and stuck it in with 18 seconds to go. 

 

It looked like the Bucs were going to run away with it as Sarah Owona knocked down a jumper to go up 57-42 with 8:37 remaining, but they wouldn't score again for 3:17 as Hillsborough went on a 9-0 run to draw back to within two possessions at 57-51 with 5:21 to go. FSW got the next five to push their lead back to double digits at 62-51, but again they couldn't hold the lead as they missed their next four shots from the field and turned the ball over six times on a stretch of 10 straight empty possessions to allow Hillsborough to come all the way back to tie the game up at 63 with 1:02 remaining. Hillsborough had the ball with the shot clock off at the end of regulation and it looked like the Bucs had a stop to send the game to overtime, but the Hawks picked up a loose ball and fired it at the basket, scoring with just :01 left on the clock to take a 65-63 lead.  The Bucs called their last timeout to advance the ball and FSW first year Head Coach drew up a last second play that worked to perfection as Serrano snuck through a screen and created enough space to get a three off as the buzzer sounded and the ball flew through the air in slow motion with Suncoast Arena quiet enough to hear a pin drop until the ball swished through the net and the Arena erupted as the Bucs pulled off a 66-65 win to remain unbeaten at home in conference play. 

 

Serrano finished with 23 including the game winner while Britt tied a career high with 26 for FSW. Owona played all 40 minutes, putting up 7 points and a team best 10 rebounds. 

 

The Bucs win their fourth straight to improve to 19-4 overall and 13-1 in Citrus Conference play while sweeping the season series with the Hawks. Hillsborough falls to 14-9 overall and 7-7 in conference play where they have already secured a spot for the upcoming FCSAA Tournament. 

 

FSW will step out of Citrus Conference play for the final time this season on Saturday when they host Florida State College at Jacksonville at 2 PM in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. The added game will be open to the public with no tickets needed for the event.