NWF Hosts Chipola Saturday for the Third and Final Showdown of the Regular Season

Game 24

#4 Northwest Florida State (21-2) vs. #24 Chipola (20-6)

February 17, 2024 | 2:00 PM (CST) | Niceville, FL | Raider Arena

Links: Live Stream

TIP-OFF  

Coming off a gutsy win in Pensacola earlier in the week, Northwest Florida State women's basketball looks to build on its momentum with a win at home Saturday against No. 24 Chipola.

The Raiders defeated the Indians in their prior two meetings this season, once at home (76-48) and once on the road (73-65). A win on Saturday could position the Raiders one step closer to clinching a spot in the 2024 NJCAA Region 8 tournament next month. The team currently sits in second place of the Panhandle Conference standings with a 6-2 record, one game behind Gulf Coast and two games ahead of Chipola.

On the other side, the Indians are coming off back-to-back wins, inducing an upset overtime victory over No. 2 Gulf Coast last week in Marianna. Right now, the Indians are sitting in third place of the Panhandle Conference standings, two games behind the Raiders, and are looking to gain some ground on fourth place Pensacola as the season enters its final stretch.

CHICK-FIL-A DAY

Niceville Chick-Fil-A will be in the building for Saturday's game handing out free sandwich coupons to fans in attendance. In addition, one lucky fan will have the opportunity to win free Chick-fil-A for a year if they can make a half-court shot during halftime of the men's game (4:00 PM). For more details, please visit the table under the video board located by the front entrance of the arena.

STATE TOURNAMENT PASSES NOW ON SALE

The 2024 FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Basketball Tournament is just around the corner, and fans have the opportunity to purchase tournament passes at Raider basketball games starting this weekend! NWF and Raider Arena are thrilled to host the tournament for the fifth consecutive year. Mark your calendars for March 13-16 to experience the excitement as top teams from the Panhandle and Citrus conferences compete for a shot at advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament. Secure your tournament pass for $40 at the table in the breezeway on the south side of the arena during this weekend's games.

LAST TIME OUT

Fans attending Wednesday's game at Hartsell Arena witnessed a thrilling showdown between two top conference teams, culminating in a nail-biting finish decided by the final shot. No. 4 Northwest Florida State women's basketball clinched a hard-earned victory over No. 14 Pensacola State, prevailing 61-57. The game-winning moment arrived courtesy of Jaela Davis' clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter.

The Raiders established an early lead in the first two quarters, outscoring the Pirates 36-27 by halftime. However, they faced challenges in the third quarter, relinquishing their lead due to turnovers and subpar shooting. Pensacola seized a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, limiting the Raiders to just five points in the third period.

Nevertheless, NWF orchestrated a comeback in the final quarter, scoring 20 points, including a crucial go-ahead three-pointer from Jaela Davis in the closing moments. This propelled them to a three-point lead and ultimately secured a four-point victory.

Celia Riviere (17) and Destiney McPhaul (12) led the Raiders in scoring, combining for 29 points. Neveah Scott (9) and Jaela Davis (8) also contributed significantly, with Scott adding five assists and four rebounds. The Raiders exhibited impressive shooting, boasting a 53.5% field goal success rate and connecting on 33.3% of their three-point attempts, with Davis responsible for three of the four made threes. 

PANHANDLE CONFERENCE STANDINGS

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