TWIN FALLS, Idaho- Thursday, it was a hot start and a slow finish for the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers, the opposite was true on Friday and so was the result as the Bucs shook off a 14-0 deficit to begin the game against Yavapai to come from behind for a 74-65 victory behind a combined 44 points from freshmen Ashley Lester and Makenna Shaffer. 

 

The Bucs got off to a dreadful start as they missed their first five field goal attempts and turned it over four times as Yavapai raced out to a 14-0 lead just three minutes into the contest.  Finally the Bucs got on the board at the 5:01 mark of the first and it would jump start a 10-0 run over the next 1:15 as Ashley Lester came off the bench and connected on a pair of threes to cut the Bucs deficit to just four at 14-10. The teams traded baskets from there with Sarah Owona connecting on a runner to make it a five point game at the end of one with the Roughriders leading 22-17. 

 

Another Lester triple early in the second got the Bucs back to within two, but a nearly five minute drought without a field goal for FSW allowed the Roughriders to cushion their lead back to double digits at 37-24 with 4:00 to go in the half.  A late three from Makenna Shaffer got the Bucs back to within nine at the break, but there was still work for FSW to do in the final 20 minutes as they trailed Yavapai 42-33 at the break.  

 

As she did on Thursday, Federica Lagana came off the FSW bench and provided a spark as the second half began, picking the pocket of the Roughriders' point guard for a steal and score to get the Bucs back to within seven. The Lester show continued later in the third as the Bucs freshman rained in her fourth three of the game and a mid range jumper from Georgi Buzzetti drew FSW all the way back to within two at 51-49 with 2:52 to go in the quarter. The Bucs tied the game at the line before Lester drilled another triple in the final minute of the period to give FSW their first lead of the game at 55-52 at the end of three.  

 

Yavapai got the first two points of the fourth to make it a one point game, but Shaffer nailed a three to stretch it to a two possession game in favor of the Bucs on FSW's next possession.  The Bucs locked in on defense from there, frustrating the Roughrider offense into a number of tough shots while a steal and score from Owona upped their lead to five at 65-60 with 3:24 to go. A day after struggling from the free throw line, the Bucs were automatic from the stripe to put this one away as Shaffer went 2-2 on two straight trips and Owona hit both of her freebies to put it away for FSW in the final minute as the Bucs dribbled out a 74-65 win to complete the comeback and level their record at 2-2 on the year. 

 

Lester and Shaffer did the bulk of the damage for the Bucs as Lester came off the bench to score at game high 24 on 8-16 from the field and 6-12 from three while Shaffer put up a monster double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Lisa Le Roy also filled up the stat sheet, scoring 11 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists for FSW.  

 

The Bucs even up their record to 2-2 on the year with the win while Yavapai drops to 0-2. 

 

The Bucs will wrap up their trip to Idaho with a prime time matchup with the host and 4^th ranked Southern Idaho Golden Eagles Saturday at 7 PM (ET).