November 6, 2022
Bucs Earn Early Season Statement Win
To say the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers felt slighted when they weren't announced as part of the preseason NJCAA Top 25 Rankings may be a bit of an understatement. The Bucs certainly made their case to be part of the next rankings on Saturday, holding #2 Shelton State to just 28% shooting in a 58-48 victory, the highest ranked opponent the FSW program has ever defeated.
MORRISTOWN, TENN.- To say the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers felt slighted when they weren't announced as part of the preseason NJCAA Top 25 Rankings may be a bit of an understatement. The Bucs certainly made their case to be part of the next rankings on Saturday, holding #2 Shelton State to just 28% shooting in a 58-48 victory, the highest ranked opponent the FSW program has ever defeated.
FSW came out hot in the battle of the Bucs as the Purple and Aqua jumped out to a 20-12 lead against the Shelton State Bucs behind an 8 point first quarter from Jayla Murray.
Shelton controlled the second, holding FSW to just nine points in the period, but the Bucs defense did enough to preserve a three point lead at 29-26 after 20 minutes of action.
For the second straight half, the Bucs came out hot in the third, this time behind Natalia Tondi who cashed a pair of three pointers to help extend FSW's lead to double digits after three at 48-36.
Shelton made a push in the fourth, but the Bucs held them off as FSW took enough air out of the ball to finish off a 58-48 victory.
FSW shot 54% in the win and was 6-9 from three point land, but Shelton stuck around because of a massive advantage on the glass where they outrebounded the Bucs 35-21 including 16 offensive boards. Tondi led the Bucs with 16 points on 6-9 shooting and 4-6 from deep while Murray and Macarena Retamales both reached double figures with 12 and 11 respectively.
The Bucs start their season a perfect 2-0 with two quality victories while Shelton falls to a disappointing -2 with the loss.
FSW returns home with the wins in tow and will take their home floor for the first time this season next weekend when they host a three day classic in Suncoast Credit Union Arena beginning on Friday when they battle John A. Logan from Illinois at 7 PM. Bucs season ticket holders can pick their tickets up at the Arena Box Office on gameday prior to the game.