Raiders Earn Tenth Straight Win After Defeating EMCC Friday

NICEVILLE, Florida – Another night, another dominant performance for Northwest Florida State women's basketball as the Raiders take an easy one at home against East Mississippi College, 93-49, earning them their tenth straight win and sixth this season.

Mekhia Chase led the charge with a season-high 18 points, adding three rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists. Jaela Davis and Kyla McBride each put up 17 points, with Davis matching a career-high in steals (7) and McBride tying a season-high in rebounds (5). Celia Riviere had another solid performance, posting her third double-double of the season – her second in as many games.

The Raiders shot an even 50.0% clip from the floor tonight but struggled to knock down threes, only making two the entire game. The Raiders were getting it done in transition, scoring 37 points off the fast break to go with their 21 steals and 34 forced turnovers – a season-high in both regards. NWF was plus 12 on the glass, plus 18 in assists, and plus four in blocked shots.

This win means the Raiders have now begun each of the last seven seasons 6-0, six of which have been under the direction of head coach Bart Walker. This win marks Walkers' 408th win overall as a head coach and 164th win as the Raiders bench boss.

FIRST QUARTER

• NWF didn't get off to the hottest start, beginning the game 3-7 from the field while producing four turnovers, giving the Lions a 9-7 advantage after five minutes of action.
• Celia Riviere regained the Raider's lead with a made layup with just under four minutes to go in the quarter.
• Mekhia Chase answered an East Mississippi score with a layup, giving the Raiders a four-point cushion with 2:19 left in the period.
• The Raiders closed out the first quarter with a 10-0 run and a Nevaeh Scott buzzer beater, giving NWF a 24-15 lead at the end of one.

SECOND QUARTER

• Kyla McBride sunk NWF's first three of the game to open up the scoring for the Raiders in the second.
• Allison Ferguson answered that with a fast break score following a Mya Pierfax steal, bringing the Raiders' lead to 13.
• With just under three minutes to play in the half, Mekhia Chase scored another transition bucket following a Jaela Davis steal. 
• Raiders leading scorer Destiney McPhaul closed out the first half of play with another buzzer-beater, bringing the Raiders lead to 23.

THIRD QUARTER

• EMCC started the scoring in the third with a made jumper, which was immediately answered with a Cilia Riviere jumper on the other end.
• Kyla McBride drained her sixth shot of the game with 5:15 to go in the third frame, giving her 13 points for the contest.
• This would kickstart a 16-4 run by the Raiders over the next five minutes, closing the quarter with a 67-40 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Deannasty Smith and Jaela Davis would hit back-to-back layups to start the fourth and final period of play. Davis would go on to sink the Raiders' second and final three-pointer of the game shortly after this, giving the Raiders a 34-point advantage over the Lions.
• Mekhia Chase scored back-to-back fastbreak layups with under five minutes to play, bringing the Raiders lead to 44.
• Jaela Davis would finish the Raiders scoring for the night with a layup with just over 30 seconds remaining, capping an infatuating 93-49 victory over the Lions.

NEXT UP

Northwest Florida women's basketball is back home Monday night when they get set to host Southern Crescent College at 5:30 PM from Raider Arena before heading west to Athens, Texas, for a two-game split against South Panes and Paris College on Nov. 24 and 25.

For complete coverage of Northwest Florida State Athletics, visit nwfraiders.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Northwest Florida Raiders), Instagram (@nwfraiders) and X (@NWFRaiders)

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