Raiders Fall to Chipola in Region VIII Championship, 58-41

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State women's basketball fell to No. 4 Chipola in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Championship on Saturday afternoon, suffering their third loss of the season to drop to 28-3 overall.

The Raiders struggled to find any offensive rhythm, recording their lowest-scoring performance of the season. They shot just 25.0% (14-56) from the field and committed 19 turnovers. The game got off to a rough start, as Northwest Florida endured a 0-13 drought to open play, finishing the first quarter with a program-low three points after managing just one field goal and a free throw.

Offensive struggles continued throughout the game, with the Raiders making only four field goals in the second quarter and three in the third. By the start of the fourth, they trailed by double digits. Chipola's offense wasn't particularly dominant either, shooting just 29.9% (20-67) from the field. However, the difference came in turnovers and free throws—Chipola committed only 10 turnovers compared to Northwest Florida's 19 and converted 15 free throws, seven more than the Raiders.

FCSAA Player of the Year led all scorers with 22 points, while Daniya McDonald (11) and Mekhia Chase (10) were the only other players to reach double figures.

This marked the first time the Raiders were held under 50 points since January 27, 2024, when they lost to Gulf Coast, 74-42. Additionally, they had been unbeaten (27-0) when holding opponents under 60 points—until today.

Following the tournament, Mekhia Chase, Deborah Davenport, and Kyla McBride were recognized with FCSAA All-Tournament honors.

Chase led the Raiders in scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game. Davenport dominated the boards, finishing as the tournament's leading rebounder with 40 total rebounds, highlighted by a standout 21-point, 21-rebound performance in the opening game against Hillsborough. McBride contributed consistently, averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across three games.

Despite the loss, Northwest Florida's season isn't over. While not yet official, the team is expected to receive an at-large bid to the NJCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Casper, Wyo. (March 25-April 1). With 10 at-large spots available and the Raiders having remained inside the top three all season, they are in a strong position. Their official tournament placement will be announced during the NJCAA Selection Show on Sunday evening on the NJCAA Network.