February 18, 2026
Second Half Shark Attack Dooms Bucs
Four days ago the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers used a huge 20 point second half comeback to defeat the Eastern Florida State Titans on the road in Citrus Conference action. Wednesday the Bucs had the script flipped on them, watching as Miami Dade erased a 14 point FSW lead with a 53 point second half to stun FSW 92-85 and end a five game Buccaneer win streak.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Four days ago the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers used a huge 20 point second half comeback to defeat the Eastern Florida State Titans on the road in Citrus Conference action. Wednesday the Bucs had the script flipped on them, watching as Miami Dade erased a 14 point FSW lead with a 53 point second half to stun FSW 92-85 and end a five game Buccaneer win streak.
The action was up and down from the opening tip with both teams clicking on the offensive end and FSW jumping out to a 10-7 lead four minutes in after a drive to the basket and score from Delfina Cergneux. Miami Dade went up 14-12 one minute later after a steal and score but the Bucs went on a 9-0 run from there, taking a 21-14 lead on an offensive rebound and putback from Chelsea Bishop with 3:00 to go in the quarter. The pace didn't relent as each side added six more points before the end of the period making it a 27-20 game in favor of FSW at the end of a wild first quarter of action.
Destinie Gordon popped a three for the Bucs to start the second to push their lead to double digits for the first time and another bucket from the sophomore gave FSW their largest lead of the game, 41-27 midway through the quarter. Miami Dade scored the final seven points of the quarter to cut the Bucs lead to 45-39 and carry the momentum into the locker rooms at the half.
The Sharks continued to attack the Bucs as the second half got underway, tying the game at 50 with 7:08 to go in the period. FSW regrouped and got a three point play from Bishop to go back up seven but they couldn't hold the momentum as moments later Miami Dade retook a 68-63 lead at the end of three and the Bucs never led again.
Miami Dade got the first four points of the fourth to go up nine and went up by double digits for the first time in the game at 79-69 with 4:52 to go. The Bucs cut the Shark lead to five at 86-81 with 1:36 to go, but they couldn't come up with the defensive stop when they needed it as Miami Dade got a quick bucket to make it a seven point game once again and went on to win it 92-85.
The Bucs shot 45% from the field on the night and had five players score in double figures, but were outrebounded by seven and turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 20 Miami Dade points in the loss. Bishop led the way with 17 points and 8 rebounds in the loss while Elina Briede scored a career high 15 for FSW.
FSW sees their five game winning streak come to an end as they fall to 18-9 overall and 11-4 in Citrus Conference play on the year while Miami Dade improves to 17-9 overall and 10-5 in league play to climb back to within one game of FSW for second place in the conference standings.
The Bucs are back in action at Suncoast Arena on Saturday at 2 PM when they host #25 Daytona State for the final of three meetings between the two this season.
