Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS WEBSITE OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE
No events to show.
Raider Basketball Returns to Pensacola for Saturday Bouts Against the Pirates
Posted: Feb 21, 2025

Raider Basketball Returns to Pensacola for Saturday Bouts Against the Pirates

 

WOMEN

#2 Northwest Florida State (23-1, 7-1) vs. Pensacola State (17-11, 2-8)

February 22, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. CST | Pensacola, FL

MEN

#22 Northwest Florida State (18-7, 4-4) vs. Pensacola State (18-10, 6-4)

February 22, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. CST | Pensacola, FL

 

Live Stream: https://piratenetwork.live/watch-live/

 

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest State's men's and women's basketball teams hit the road this Saturday for a crucial doubleheader against Pensacola. The women's game tips off at 2:00 p.m., followed by the men at 4:00 p.m.

Both Raider teams enter the matchup with momentum after securing home victories over Tallahassee last weekend. The women dominated with a 58-38 win, led by an 18-point performance from veteran Kyla McBride. Meanwhile, the men edged out the Eagles 67-60, thanks to a 19-point effort from Dwayne Pierce and a double-double from Davion Hill, who tallied 15 points and 16 rebounds.

The Lady Raiders boast an impressive 23-1 overall record and sit atop the conference at 7-1, having already secured a spot in the FCSAA State Tournament in March. The men's team currently holds fourth place in the conference but remains in contention for the title if they can secure wins in their final four games.

First up for both teams is Pensacola. The Lady Pirates hold a 17-11 overall record but sit fourth in the Panhandle with a 2-8 conference mark. They recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Tallahassee but now face a tough challenge against the second-ranked Raiders and a showdown with Gulf Coast, ranked 10th nationally.

On the men's side, Pensacola recently ended a three-game skid with a win over the Eagles, placing them third in the conference at 6-4. They will look to hold their position in the standings against a Raiders team aiming to climb the ranks, as well as Gulf Coast, which currently sits second in the conference.

As the regular season winds down, both Raider teams are making their final push toward postseason play. The women have already secured their spot, while the men remain in control of their own fate as they fight for a postseason berth.

  

STATE TOURNAMENT PASSES ON SALE!!

  • Fans can now purchase passes for this year's FCSAA State Tournament, taking place March 12-15 at Raider Arena in Niceville. Passes will be available for $40 each (cash/check only) in the Raider Arena breezeway at all remaining home basketball games. You can also purchase your passes online by clicking HERE

 

FASTBREAKS (WOMEN)

  • Northwest Florida State women's basketball remains No. 2 in the latest NJCAA poll, a position they have held for ten of the past 12 weeks and took sole possession of first place in the Panhandle Conference with their win over Chipola on February 12.
  • The Raiders are riding a five-game winning streak, which include wins over #8 Gulf Coast and #3 Chipola. 
  • The last meeting between the Raiders and Pirates took place in Niceville, where the Raiders survived a late push from the Pirates, earning a 58-56 win. Their first meeting was in Pensacola, where again, the Raiders came out on top with a 76-53 victory.
  • Mekhia Chase (12.9 PPG), Nevaeh Scott (10.8 PPG), and Deborah Davenport (9.9 PPG) lead the Raiders in scoring. For the Pirates, Jaida McDonald (15.1), Audreonia Benson (11.6) and Katiya Casey (10.3) pace their team in scoring.
  • Chase has been the Raiders' most efficient shooter, converting 55.2% of her attempts—ranking 24th nationally—while Scott has been lethal from beyond the arc, knocking down 46.8% of her three-point attempts, the ninth-best mark in the country.
  • Northwest Florida continues to showcase its dominance as one of the nation's most well-rounded teams. The Raiders rank 11th in field goal percentage (45.6%), 22nd in three-point percentage (32.5%), sixth in blocks per game (5.0), fourth in points allowed per game (45.4), and fourth in opponent field goal percentage (30.2%).

 

FASTBREAKS (MEN)

  • The Raiders dropped four spots to #22 in the NJCAA poll and remained in fourth place of the Panhandle Conference standings.
  • The last meeting between the Raiders and Pirates took place in Niceville on February 5 where the Raiders secured a 77-67 victory over the Pirates, avenging their previous loss to them on Jan. 18 (63-56).
  • Offensively, the Raiders have shown balance, with three players averaging double figures—Davion Hill (14.4 PPG), Dwayne Pierce (11.8 PPG), and Josh Hayes (10.1 PPG)—while Curtis Williams (9.2 PPG), Braylon Roman (9.1 PPG), and Nathan Ojukwu (8.0 PPG) are also key contributors.  The Pirates are led in scoring by Will Vasser (13.8), Dimitri Clerc (11.3), Amarion Savage (10.4) and Dylan Colon (10.2).
  • Despite holding a 4-4 record and sitting in fourth place in conference play, the Raiders still control their own destiny. If they win out, they will not only secure one of two automatic bids to the state tournament but also claim at least a share of the conference title—or potentially win it outright—depending on how the remaining conference games unfold.