Chase dominates in Raiders 58-53 Win Over Florida Southwestern

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Northwest Florida State women's basketball team earned a hard-fought 58-53 victory over Florida Southwestern on Friday, fueled by Mekhia Chase's stellar performance as she recorded her first career double-double.

Chase came up just two points shy of her career-high, finishing with 19 points, while also grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds. Her standout play was complemented by strong contributions from Naomi Senato, Kyla McBride, and Deborah Davenport. Senato achieved a season-high 12 points, McBride added 10, and Davenport dominated the boards with 12 rebounds.

For the first time this season, the Raiders found themselves trailing after the opening quarter, as the Buccaneers held a 15-13 edge. However, Northwest Florida responded in commanding fashion, dominating the second quarter by outscoring the Bucs 20-6. This gave the Raiders a nine-point advantage heading into halftime, with Chase leading the charge with 14 points and Jade Ondineme adding seven. The Raiders shot an efficient 46% from the field, controlled the boards, and forced turnovers to build their lead.

The momentum carried into the third quarter, where the Raiders extended their lead by outscoring the Buccaneers 16-9 to go up by 18 points heading into the final frame. But just like their previous matchup, Florida Southwestern refused to go quietly. The Bucs mounted a furious comeback in the fourth, flipping the script and outscoring the Raiders 22-9.

Despite the late surge from Florida Southwestern, the Raiders held their ground and secured their eighth win of the season, continuing their impressive start.

NUMBERS OF NOTE

• The Raiders improved to 8-0 on the season with today's victory.
• Mekhia Chase set a season-high with 19 points and a career-best 10 rebounds, recording her first career double-double.
• Naomi Senato also posted a season-high, contributing 12 points.
• Deborah Davenport recorded double-digit rebounds for the second time this season and the fifth time in her career. She is currently averaging 9.3 rebounds per game, ranking 37th in the country.
• The Raiders' defense remains a standout, holding each of their eight opponents to under 60 points this season. They currently rank seventh nationally for points allowed per game.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to the court tomorrow afternoon in Panama City for the final day of the Gulf Coast Classic. Northwest Florida will face Southern Union at noon, wrapping up their weekend in Panama City.