January 31, 2026
Bucs Hang On Late at Eastern
Kiara Harris torched the nets for 30 points including 18 in the second half as the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers went on the road and earned a hard fought 73-71 win over the Eastern Florida State Titans Saturday afternoon in Melbourne.
MELBOURNE, Fla.- Kiara Harris torched the nets for 30 points including 18 in the second half as the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers went on the road and earned a hard fought 73-71 win over the Eastern Florida State Titans Saturday afternoon in Melbourne.
The first was back and forth early on between the Bucs and Titans as they took turned with the lead until finding themselves knotted at 14 with 3:25 to go in the quarter. An offensive rebound and putback from Destinie Gordon put the Bucs in front and started a 6-0 run to give them a 20-14 lead one minute later. With time winding down on the clock Kiara Harris found Gordon for an open three at the top of the key to give the Bucs momentum and a 28-16 lead after one.
Eastern answered with a run to begin the second, trimming the Bucs lead down to just four after a 13-5 start to the quarter. Amelia Williams nailed a three to push the lead back to seven, but the Bucs went the final 4:29 of the half without finding the hoop again as the Titans cut their lead to just two at 40-38 at the break.
The Bucs drought continued into the second half as Eastern got the first six points of the third to take a 44-40 lead. A three from Harris got the Bucs back on track and moments later a steal from Gordon and pass up the court to Harris for two put FSW back in front by a pair. Harris closed out a huge third quarter with another three to give her 13 points in the period and the Bucs a 59-52 lead as the teams went to the fourth.
The Bucs looked like they were going to run away with it as another Harris three put them up double digits with under 5:00 to go, but Eastern wasn't ready to roll over on their home floor. The Bucs went cold, managing just one field goal over the final five minutes of the contest while the Titans creeped back in to within three at 71-68 with under a minute remaining. With the shot clock winding down and less than 15 seconds remaining in regulation, a desparation shot by the Bucs was off the mark, but an offensive rebound by Gordon and then another by Delfina Cergneux gave FSW the ball with the shot clock off. Harris was fouled and went to the free throw line where she put things on ice with a pair of charities and the Bucs hung on to win it 73-71.
Harris stole the show with a season high 30 points, going 6-14 from downtown for the Bucs while Williams added 15 on 6 of 7 shooting off the FSW bench.
The Bucs take over second place in the Citrus Conference standings in the win, improving to 15-8 overall and 8-3 in league action. Eastern Florida's struggles continue as the Titans fall to 8-14 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
FSW is back in action on Wednesday when they make the trip up the coast to St. Petersburg to take on the Titans in a 5:00 tip from St. Pete.