FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers polished off their fifth straight Conference Championship in style Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, blowing out the Miami Dade Sharks 80-62 to close out the regular season and head into the postseason on a high note.
Miami Dade came out red hot, jumping out to an 11-5 lead less than three minutes into the ballgame. The Bucs answered back quickly, getting a three from Sariana Rodriguez and then back to back buckets from Macarena Retamales to take their first lead of the game at 14-13 midway through the period. The up and down affair continued for the final five minutes of the first as the teams traded blows until a late three from the Sharks gave them a 25-23 lead at the end of one.
A finish at the rim early in the second from Aaliyah Williams and a pair of free throws from Tyshonne Tollie gave the Bucs the lead back and they never relinquished it again. They stretched their lead to seven midway through the quarter on a steal from Rodriguez and a jumper from Tashun Bryson to make it 40-33 and cruised to the half with that seven point lead 46-39.
Miami Dade showed some fight, cutting it to a one possession game four minutes into the third, but a 7-0 run spurred by Ronaltha Marc put the Bucs back in front by double digits and at the end of three they led it 63-56.
FSW scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and the rout was on from there. The Bucs got threes from Rodriguez and Marc to open up an 18 point lead and went on to win by that final margin, rolling to an 80-62 win at the final horn.
The Bucs won despite shooting under 40% for just the second time in conference play. Rodriguez and Retamales scored 17 each in their final home games with the Bucs while Marc added 12 points and 7 steals off the FSW bench.
FSW moves to 21-5 overall and wraps up Southern Conference play at 8-1 to win their fifth straight Conference Championship. Miami Dade's struggles continue as they fall to 6-22 overall and remain winless in conference play at 0-8.
With the regular season complete for the Bucs, they now turn their attention to the postseason where they will kick off the FCSAA State Tournament on March 3rd in Niceville, Florida. Seeding and matchups for the tournament will be released next Friday.