January 10, 2026
Gordon Powers Bucs Past Hawks
Destinie Gordon put up a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers to a second half comeback against the Hillsborough Hawks Saturday afternoon at Suncoast Credit Union Arena as FSW got past HCC 77-74 to remain unbeaten in Citrus Conference play.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Destinie Gordon put up a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers to a second half comeback against the Hillsborough Hawks Saturday afternoon at Suncoast Credit Union Arena as FSW got past HCC 77-74 to remain unbeaten in Citrus Conference play.
The Bucs and Hawks didn't waste any time in getting the action going as the two traded basket for basket in the first seven minutes with FSW holding a one point lead at 13-12 with three minutes to go in the first. Hillsborough scored the next six to retake the lead and held that lead to the end of the period at 24-19.
Both teams continued to pour in the points in the second, but it was the Hawks who were able to extend their lead to 38-30 with 3:47 remaining in the half. The Bucs hung around, getting a late bucket from Destinie Gordon and a free throw from Chelsea Bishop to get back to within five before the break at 45-40.
Gordon took over for the Bucs early in the third quarter, scoring the first six points of the period, while the FSW defense held Hillsborough off the board for the first 4:04 to take their first lead since the first quarter at 46-45. The Hawks stopped the bleeding to retake the lead, but Rannon Suttle answered with a three of her own to put FSW back in front 55-53. The Bucs flipped the script on the Hawks in the third, taking a 61-57 advantage as the two rivals headed to the final 10 minutes of action.
Arielle Marc found Chelsea Bishop in the paint for two to extend the Bucs lead early in the fourth and Bishop knocked down a pair of free throws moments later to keep it a five point game at 68-63 with 6:26 to go. After Hillsborough came back to tie the score at 68, back to back three pointers from sharpshooter Kiara Harris gave the Bucs the lead back as the clock ticked under 2:00 to go. The Hawks got to within two in the closing seconds, but that is as close as they would get as Gordon hit a free throw to make it a three point game and Hillsborough couldn't get a shot off to try to send it to overtime as the Bucs closed it out 77-74 to remain unbeaten in conference action.
The Bucs were on fire offensively, shooting 49% from the field and 50% from the three point line in the win. FSW dominated second chance points with a 23-5 advantage after a +14 margin on the glass while Hillsborough took advantage of 19 Bucs turnovers, turning them into 24 points in the narrow defeat.
Gordon led the Buc with 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting while also ripping down a team high 15 rebounds in the win. Bishop and Harris each added 17.
The Bucs remain tied atop the Citrus Conference standings, moving to 11-5 overall and 4-0 in league play. Hillsborough falls two games behind the pace at 7-7 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
The Bucs continue a four game homestand on Monday when they host #23 Daytona State in a matchup of the final two remaining unbeatens in Citrus Conference play. The Bucs and Falcons will get underway in a 5 PM Big Monday start in Suncoast Credit Union Arena.