Raiders Open Conference Play With 28-Point Victory Over Chipola
NICEVILLE, Florida – Securing a win is always gratifying, but claiming victory over a conference rival at the onset of conference play, especially with a nearly 30-point margin, adds a special touch.
Northwest Florida State women's basketball commenced conference play with a decisive 76-48 triumph over Chipola, elevating their record to an unblemished 16-0 and extending their remarkable win streak to 20 games, tracing back to last season.
Four Raiders achieved double-digit scores in this dominant performance. Celia Riviere led the game with 18 points. Destiney McPhaul recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. Additional noteworthy contributions came from Mekhia Chase, posting 18 points, and Deborah Davenport, who scored 10.
NWF showcased efficient shooting, connecting on 49.2% of their shots, with a substantial portion originating from inside the paint, contributing to 46 of their 76 points. The Raiders' defense held Chipola to a season-low 33.3% shooting. The Raiders' bench excelled, accumulating 23 points, while Chipola's bench contributed a mere 4 points.
The Raiders secure a 1-0 start in conference play and aim to maintain the momentum as they face the Eagles in Tallahassee on January 17.
FIRST QUARTER
The Raiders and Indians initiated the game with a pair of successful shots – one from each team – exchanging layups to level the score at four apiece. Celia Riviere's effortless layup granted the Raiders their initial lead, followed by a three-pointer from Destiney McPhaul in the subsequent possession, propelling NWF ahead by five with 6:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Later in the period, McPhaul's defensive prowess led to a turnover on the Indians' side, enabling Mekhia Chase to execute an easy layup, extending the Raiders' lead to seven. The Raiders maintained their dominance in the paint for the remainder of the quarter, establishing a double-digit lead. Mekhia Chase sealed the quarter with a buzzer-beating triple, setting the score at 23-9 in favor of the Raiders.
SECOND QUARTER
An opening pair of free throws and a layup in the second quarter extended the Raiders' lead to 18. A 7-0 run by the Indians within the next two minutes narrowed the gap to 11. However, the Raiders promptly responded with a layup and a three-pointer around the 5:30 mark, reinstating a 16-point lead.
A layup by Mekhia Chase with just under a minute left in the second quarter propelled the Raiders to their largest lead of the half (19). In the final seconds of the half, Jade Ondimeme split a pair of free throws, securing a 37-18 advantage for the Raiders heading into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
Destiney McPhaul commenced the second half by sinking her second three-pointer, providing NWF with a 22-point cushion. Despite back-to-back scores by the Indians reducing their deficit to 19 with 7:25 left in the third, Kyla McBride and Jade Ondimeme countered with consecutive layups, following robust defensive play.
An 11-0 Chipola run, featuring three successful three-pointers, trimmed the Raiders' lead to 14 with 2:50 remaining in the quarter. With 1:51 left in the frame, the Indians narrowed the deficit to 11, but Celia Riviere halted their run with an inside layup, sparking a 6-0 run of their own to conclude the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Raiders' momentum persisted into the fourth quarter as they amassed 15 unanswered points against the Indians, escalating their lead to 25 with just over seven minutes remaining. The Indians halted their scoring drought with a successful three-pointer inside the seven-minute mark.
At 5:25 left in the game, Mya Pierfax nailed a triple from the corner, propelling NWF to a 69-46 lead and initiating an 11-0 run by the Raiders. Mekhia Chase concluded the run with a second-chance layup with just under three minutes to play, establishing the Raiders' largest lead of the game (30). This marked the final score of the game as the Raiders sealed a convincing 76-48 victory, inaugurating conference play with a triumph.
UP NEXT
The Raiders embark on a road trip to Tallahassee to face the Eagles on January 17 at 4:30 PM (CST). They will return to Raider Arena the following week, hosting Pensacola on January 27 at 5:30 PM (CST).
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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