Northwest Florida Wins National Championship

LUBBOCK, Texas – For Bart Walker, it was always his dream to coach in a national championship game.

For players Kynadi Kuykendoll, Masengo Mutanda, Chanaya Pinto, and Laura Taylor, it was a chance to finish a mission that began two years ago.

For tournament Most Valuable Player Last-Tear Poa and others it was a chance to shine on the biggest stage … and shine they did.

On Saturday, all dreams came true as Northwest Florida State defeated Trinity Valley, 67-60, to claim the program's first-ever NJCAA Women's Basketball National Championship.

"This is really sweet," Walker said. "This is a special bunch of kids. They played for each other. I can't describe how proud I am of this team and this program."

The Raiders (24-2) became the sixth consecutive Panhandle Conference school to win the women's national title and earned the fourth championship in school history following the 1994-95 men's basketball, 2014-15 men's basketball, and 2015 baseball teams.

Coincidentally, Trinity Valley is the last non-Panhandle school to win a women's basketball title having won three straight from 2012-2014.

In a matchup of two of the nation's best front courts, Trinity Valley took control of the game early. The Cardinals (22-3) dominated in the paint taking a 19-10 lead and keeping NWF from recording its first defensive rebound until the 1:25 mark in the first quarter.

Trailing 25-20 in the second, Northwest Florida got jumpers from Pinto and Ana Carolina Jesus as well as a layup from Mutanda to spur a 6-0 run and take a 26-25 lead, the team's first since the opening moments of the game.

The Raiders led by three late in the first half when Trinity Valley found its rhythm again. The Cardinals scored the final nine points – all coming in the paint – to take a 38-32 advantage into the break.

Mutanda knocked down a three with 6:52 left in the third quarter and Poa followed with a layup and a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to one, 42-41. 

After Trinity Valley scored the next four points, Shelbee Brown made a layup before Pinto added a pair of jumpers to put NWF on top once again, 47-46.

It was a back-and-forth affair – the game featured nine lead changes and eight ties – until the 4:25 mark in the final quarter when Pinto drilled a three with time running out on the shot clock to make in a 60-55 Raider lead.

Despite several opportunities to put the game out of reach, Northwest Florida couldn't extend its lead before Mailyn Wilkerson drained a three and Taiyanna Jackson tied the game at 60 with a layup with just 1:50 on the clock.

However, Northwest Florida's stars of the tournament took over in the waning moments. Poa converted a pair of free throws, Pinto knocked down a three and Kuykendoll sealed the win with a fast break layup with two seconds left in the game.

Poa finished the game with a game-high 20 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Pinto had 19 on an 8-of-17 effort and 10 rebounds.

Brown turned in eight points, five rebounds, and seven steals, while Mutanda chipped in with nine points.

"This team in the tournament wanted to age me and put some more grey hair on me," Walker said jokingly. "We stuck to our game and our defense. When we took the lead in the third quarter, that really put some stress on [Trinity Valley] and changed the game for us."

For more information on Northwest Florida State Athletics, visit NWFRaiders.com or follow the team on Twitter at @NWFRaiders.