Scott and Davenport Shine as Raiders Secure 15th Win of the Season

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Northwest Florida State women's basketball returned from the winter break with a dominant performance at Raider Arena, taking down Southern Union 81-43 in their final home game of 2024. The win marked the Raiders' 15th victory of the season, driven by a disciplined offensive attack and solid defensive play.

The Raiders scored from all over the court, with 44 of their 81 points coming in the paint and 33 points from behind the arc, thanks to a season-high 11 three-pointers. Neveah Scott led the way from deep, shooting 5-8 from three and finishing with 17 points. Deborah Davenport matched Scott's scoring output, tallying 17 points on 8-11 shooting, along with seven rebounds and two assists.

Northwest Florida set the tone early, jumping out to a 21-8 lead in the first quarter. Davenport powered the offensive surge with 10 of her 17 points in the opening frame. Southern Union's Zariah Fannin responded with a 10-point quarter of her own, keeping the Bison within striking distance.

In the second quarter, the Raiders extended their lead to double digits within the first two minutes, fueled by a Davenport layup and a Scott three-pointer. Northwest Florida maintained consistent scoring throughout the period, shooting just under 50% and heading into halftime with a 38-25 lead. At the break, Davenport led the Raiders with 13 points, while Chase and Sydney Bradley added eight each. Fannin led all scorers with 14 points for Southern Union. The Raiders shot 48.5% from the field and 33.3% from three in the first half, compared to the Bison's 36.0% overall and 16.7% from beyond the arc.

The third quarter saw the Raiders dominate on both ends of the floor, scoring 29 points while holding the Bison to just seven on three field goals. A 17-5 run, highlighted by three consecutive three-pointers from Scott, helped Northwest Florida build a commanding 67-32 lead by the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Raiders eased up offensively, but with their substantial lead, there was little left to prove. When the final buzzer sounded, Northwest Florida State sealed an 81-43 victory, closing out 2024 on a high note and heading into the new year with momentum.

KEY PERFORMERS

• Neveah Scott and Deborah Davenport led all scorers with 17 points in the game. Scott tallied five made three's, matching a career high. Davenport secured seven rebounds, giving her 13 games this season with more than five boards.
• Mekhia Chase knotted 11 points in the contest while securing six rebounds and 3 assists.
• Sydney Bradley scored a career high ten points in the game with a career high six rebounds.
• Zariah Fannin led Southern Union in scoring with 16 points. 14 of those points came in the first half.

NUMBERS TO NOTE

• This win marks the Raiders 15^th of the season making them perfect so far on the year.
• 11 made three pointers marks a new season-high for Northwest Florida and the most three's made since March 7, 2018 when the Raiders connected on 11 against Moberly Area College in the second round of the NJCAA National Tournament.
• The Raiders have now won 35 consecutive non-conference games, a streak dating back to their 2022 National Championship season. Their last regular-season non-conference loss came on December 2, 2022, against Eastern Florida State.
• Northwest Florida has held seven straight opponents to under 50 points (11 total).

UP NEXT

Looking ahead, the Raiders are set for two more road games before beginning Conference Play at home on January 11. They will first head to Boonville, Miss., to face Northwest Mississippi on January 6. After that, the team will travel to Cuthbert, Ga., for a January 8 showdown against Andrew. The Raiders will then return to Niceville on January 11 to host Tallahassee State and kick off conference action.