January 20, 2022
Hot Start Not Enough For Bucs in Top 20 Matchup
As the old saying goes, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. Unfortunately for the #18 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers, they were the victims of that Thursday night in their top 20 matchup with #13 South Georgia Tech, jumping out to a 12-2 lead to begin the game just to see that lead evaporate and play catch up the rest of the game, ultimately coming up short in an 80-74 loss to snap a six game win streak.
AMERICUS, Ga.- As the old saying goes, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. Unfortunately for the #18 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers, they were the victims of that Thursday night in their top 20 matchup with #13 South Georgia Tech, jumping out to a 12-2 lead to begin the game just to see that lead evaporate and play catch up the rest of the game, ultimately coming up short in an 80-74 loss to snap a six game win streak.
After a long drive up to the Peach State, the Bucs showed no ill effects of the nearly seven hour trip when the ball was thrown up as they raced out to a 5-0 and then 12-2 lead just three minutes into the contest. They cooled down over the next five minutes though and the Lady Jets found their stride on their home floor, going on an 11-2 run to cut FSW's lead to just one at 14-13 with 2:00 to go in the quarter. With the game tied at 22 late in the period, a three from Macarena Retamales rained in, giving the Bucs a three point lead, 25-22 after 10 exciting minutes of action in the Hanger.
The pace slowed as the second quarter got underway and a bucket midway through for the Lady Jets gave South Georgia Tech their first lead of the night at 33-31. The Bucs struggled to control the glass and the Lady Jets took advantage, extending their lead to 44-38 at the break.
The Bucs and Lady Jets went back and forth in the opening minutes of the third period and South Georgia Tech remained at arm's length until Aaliyah Williams found Retamales on a backdoor cut for an easy two to get FSW back to within two at 57-55 with 2:30 remaining. They couldn't get any closer though and South Georgia Tech scored 8 of the final 11 points of the quarter to up their lead to 65-58 as the teams went to the fourth.
With their backs to the wall, the Bucs showed some fight in the fourth as Jayla Murray came up with a big blocked shot and raced it the other way herself for two to get FSW back to within three at 69-66 midway through the quarter. They cut it to two on a pair of occasions late, but just couldn't combine a stop and a bucket to draw back even with the Lady Jets. In the end, it was South Georgia Tech coming out on top 80-74 to snap a six game winning streak for the Purple and Aqua.
The Bucs shot the ball well on the night, hitting on 49% from the field and 41% from three, but struggled once again at the free throw line where they were 7-13 in the six point defeat. Retamales led the way with a big night, scoring 26 on 10-15 shooting and 6-8 from three while Murray dialed up a 21 point, 13 rebound double-double in the loss.
The loss is the first in seven games for the Bucs who fall to 14-4 on the season while South Georgia Tech improves to 17-4.
FSW will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to St. Petersburg to take on the Titans in a 4:00 PM non-conference tussle.