Raiders Knock Off Commodores, Claim Share of Panhandle Conference Championship 

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — For the fifth consecutive year, Northwest Florida State women's basketball has secured a Panhandle Conference Championship after defeating No. 2 Gulf Coast Saturday afternoon, giving them a share of the Conference Title with the Commodores. 

The Raiders headed to Panama City looking to get redemption over the Commodores after they defeated NWF in their previous two meetings - once in Panama City (74-42) and once in Niceville (71-60). The Raiders were scorching in the first half, connecting on 76.2% of their shots, including 60.0% of their attempts from three. On the flip side, the Commodores struggled to find any rhythm, only making eight shots in the first two quarters for a 27.6% clip, including 14.3% from three after taking 21 attempts. This allowed the Raiders to jump out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and carry a 42-32 halftime lead. 

The Raiders continued their offensive onslaught in the third period, hitting a 60.0% clip for the quarter. Still, the Commodores were starting to find their groove, making nearly half of their shots, including a pair of threes in the third. NWF was still able to hold an 18-point lead over GCC. However, momentum was starting to build for the opposition. The fourth quarter saw the Commodores nearly pull off a comeback for the ages after pulling their deficit back to within single digits after an 11-3 scoring run. However, the Raiders' defense prevailed, continuing to force turnovers and crash the glass. Ultimately, the Commodore's' comeback hopes were silenced as the Raiders walked away with a 77-67 victory. 

Destiney McPhaul and Deborah Davenport were the Raiders leading scorers, each producing 17 points. Celia Riviere and Mekhia Chase were right behind McPhaula and Davenport. Riviere scored 13 points for the game, while Chase notched 10 points, rounding out the Raiders' double-digit scorers. 

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This game marks the end of the regular season schedule for the Raiders as they now shift their focus to the FCSAA State/ Region 8 Tournament in less than two weeks. The tournament will take place March 13-16 at Raider Arena in Niceville, Fla.