McPhaul and Davenport Lead Raiders to Second Half Comeback Over Casper

CASPER, Wyo. — March is synonymous with the mantra "survive and advance," and that's precisely what the Northwest Florida women's basketball team achieved on Thursday afternoon, overcoming host school Casper with a hard-fought 76-69 victory, witnessed by an enthusiastic couple thousand Thunderbird fans.

Destiney McPhaul and Deborah Davnenport delivered standout performances, contributing a combined total of 48 points to the Raiders' tally. McPhaul led the charge with an impressive 25 points, along with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while playing the entire 40 minutes. Davenport added 23 points, complemented by seven rebounds, three steals, and four blocks.

Neveah Scott and Jade Ondineme also made significant contributions, with Scott chipping in 11 points and five rebounds, while Ondineme provided a crucial nine points, including pivotal buckets down the stretch.

The first quarter saw the T-Birds dominating, particularly from beyond the arc, sinking seven of their eight attempts from three-point range to establish a 29-18 lead over Northwest Florida. Despite a surge in shooting efficiency from the Raiders in the second half, the T-Birds maintained their hot streak, heading into halftime with a 47-38 advantage.

However, the Raiders rallied after the break, launching a 14-2 run to start the third quarter and stifling Casper's offense to seize a 52-49 lead with around five minutes remaining in the period. Holding onto a narrow five-point lead heading into the final quarter, the Raiders remained resilient, fending off attempts by Casper to close the gap. McPhaul and Davenport continued to dominate the T-Birds in the paint, which was a major reason why they were able to maintain their lead in the final quarter.. 

In the end, Northwest Florida emerged victorious, clinching the win in front of a raucous crowd at the Ford Wyoming Center, despite the challenges they faced in the first half.

With their advancement to the quarterfinal round secured, the Raiders now set their sights on a matchup against No. 11 Three Rivers. Tipoff for tomorrow's game is scheduled for 7:45 PM (CDT), offering an opportunity for Northwest Florida to advance to their third Final Four in four years.