February 25, 2026
Bucs Hang On For Sophomore Night Win
The Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers fought off a late game comeback attempt by the visiting Santa Fe Saints for a 60-59 win Wednesday night in the final home game for the Bucs of the 2026 season.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers fought off a late game comeback attempt by the visiting Santa Fe Saints for a 60-59 win Wednesday night in the final home game for the Bucs of the 2026 season.
The Bucs got off to a slow start, managing just two points over the first 3:30 minutes of the contest as Santa Fe got out to an early 8-2 lead. They remained down six later on, but finished the quarter strong, getting a steal and lay in at the horn to get back to within one at 15-14 after 10 minutes of action.
A pair of early threes from the Saints quickly put the Bucs in a seven point hole at 21-14 but they slowly worked their way back into the game and an offensive rebound and putback from Chelsea Bishop with under a minute to go in the half put FSW back ahead 24-23. After a bucket from the Saints swapped the lead back to the side of Santa Fe, Arielle Marc beat the second quarter buzzer with a lay in to give FSW a 26-25 lead into the locker rooms at half.
It took the Bucs over three minutes to get their first field goal out of the locker room, but once they got one to fall, they were rolling, getting three point plays from Bishop and Destinie Gordon to quickly take their first double digit lead of the night at 40-30 midway through the period. The Bucs second half secret weapon Amelia Williams got a bucket to put the Bucs up 11, but Santa Fe dominated the final three minutes of the third, trimming the FSW lead to just four at 49-45 as the teams went to the fourth.
The Bucs started the fourth cold and Santa Fe took advantage, retaking a 57-55 lead midway through the period. The back and forth continued as Damia Worthy hit a floater to tie the score back up before Santa Fe got a run out in transition to push back ahead 15 seconds later. Worthy connected on a three to put the Bucs back ahead 60-59 with 3:27 to go and FSW hung on for dear life from there. The Bucs didn't score again, but their defense turned it up a couple notches, holding the Saints without a point over the final four minutes of the contest to escape with a 60-59 win.
Playing in their final home games as Bucs Bishop and Gordon led the way for FSW with double-doubles as Bishop went for 21 points and 10 rebounds and Gordon 12 points and 13 rebounds while Williams scored a career high 17 off the Buccaneers bench.
The Bucs improve to 19-10 overall with the victory while upping their Citrus Conference mark to 12-5. Santa Fe's struggles continue as the Saints fall to 7-17 overall and 3-13 in league play where they clinch a last place finish in the Citrus Conference in 2026.
FSW will look to earn their 20th win of the season and gain some momentum into the postseason in their regular season finale on Monday when they travel to Miami Dade to take on the Sharks in a 5 PM tip.