MELBOURNE, Fla.- With 11:35 left in Saturday's Citrus Conference game the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers trailed the Eastern Florida State Titans by 18.  To that point, it just wasn't the Bucs afternoon. But, an offense rebound and putback from Chelsea Bishop began an almost unbelievable run by both Bishop and the Bucs to close out the game as FSW whittled down the Titans lead, tied the game late, and ultimately pulled off a shocking 64-62 win to punch their ticket to the 2026 postseason. 

 

The Bucs scored on their first possession of the game, but then went ice cold from there to get things started, falling behind 7-2 after five minutes of action. Their struggles continued as Eastern stretched their lead to 13-4 before scoring nine points in the final 1:58 of the quarter to take a 22-8 lead at the end of one. 

 

It didn't get any prettier for the Bucs as the second quarter got underway as the Titans ballooned their lead to 20 midway through the period at 35-15. Kiara Harris hit a three to break the Eastern momentum, but at the break it was still all Titans as the Bucs went to the locker rooms training Eastern Florida 38-23. 

 

Eastern Florida stretched their lead to 50-31 four minutes into the third and held an 18 point lead with 1:35 to go in the period. Chelsea Bishop grabbed an offense rebound and stuck it back for the Bucs first bucket in over two minutes and they would pick up a grain of momentum in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to cut the Eastern lead to 53-39 at the end of three. 

 

A three from Rannon Suttle got the fourth quarter scoring going and a free throw from Bishop had the Bucs back to within single digits for the first time since the first quarter at 57-48 with 4:41 to go. Four straight from Bishop moments later made it a two possession game and a pair of free throws from the sophomore had the Bucs back to within four at 59-55 with 1:38 to go. It was obvious the momentum had shifted, but the only question was if there was going to be enough time on the clock for the Bucs to complete the comeback. A Bishop three from the top of the key made it a two point game and a steal from Destinie Gordon and a dish ahead to Bishop for a lay in tied the game at 60 with 37 seconds to go. Eastern retook with a pair of free throws with 26 seconds remaining but FSW went right back to Bishop for the answer and she gave the Bucs just that with a lay in through traffic to tie the score back up at 62. A swarming Bucs defense intercepted an Eastern pass on the Titans next trip down the floor and Damia Worthy was fouled going to the basket on the ensuing possession to put her on the line in a tie game with 6 seconds to go. To complicate the issue for the Titans, they were called for an inexplicable technical foul after the play, giving the Bucs four free throws plus the ball back with the game on the line. Worthy sunk one of two free throws to give the Bucs their first lead since the opening seconds of the game, but FSW missed the two technical tosses to keep it a one point game. The Titans sent the Bucs back to the line after a quick foul out of a timeout, but again FSW left the door open, splitting the pair to make it a two point game. Eastern raced the ball up the floor on their final possession but thankfully for the Bucs their prayer wasn't answered at the buzzer as FSW hung on for a stunning 64-62 victory. 

 

Bishop put together a historic second half, scoring 25 points, the most points in a half by an FSW player in program history. She finished with 29 points on an efficient 9-12 from the field while also hauling in a team best 9 rebounds. 

 

The Bucs have sneakily won five straight to improve to 18-8 overall and 11-3 in Citrus Conference play on the year where they have now punched their ticket to the upcoming FCSAA Championships in Niceville. Eastern Florida is on the different cut line as they fall to 10-16 overall and are now just one game clear for the final postseason spot from the league with a 5-9 mark. 

 

After playing seven of their last eight on the road, the Bucs now get to enjoy the friendly confines of Suncoast Arena over the next couple of weeks, beginning a three game homestand Wednesday when they host Miami Dade in a 5 PM tip in Fort Myers.