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🏀 Who: Northwest Florida State College women’s basketball team
🔥 What: Advanced to the NJCAA DI Final Four after a comeback win over No. 6 Three Rivers
📅 When: Saturday night
📍 Where: Casper, Wyoming
🎯 Why: A dominant second-half performance led by Nevaeh Scott and Mekhia Chase helped the Raiders secure an 83-78 victory and continue their pursuit of a national championship.
The Northwest Florida State College women’s basketball team secured a spot in the NJCAA Division I Final Four on Saturday night, overcoming a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat No. 6 Three Rivers 83-78 in the quarterfinals.
The victory marks Northwest Florida’s third consecutive Final Four appearance and its fourth in the last five seasons. The Raiders will now face No. 10 Eastern Arizona, which advanced after defeating No. 2 Wabash Valley 64-59.
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Three Rivers took control early, hitting six three-pointers in the first quarter to put Northwest Florida on the defensive. Despite the early deficit, the Raiders responded with an 8-0 run to close the period, cutting the gap to one point. However, offensive struggles returned in the second quarter, as Northwest Florida managed just one field goal in the first six minutes and committed eight turnovers. By halftime, Three Rivers held a 39-33 lead, capitalizing on the Raiders’ 13 first-half turnovers.
Three Rivers extended its lead to 13 points early in the third quarter, but Northwest Florida responded with a 16-4 run to tie the game at 59 heading into the final period. Nevaeh Scott and Mekhia Chase took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 straight points to give the Raiders their first lead of the game. Clutch baskets from Jade Ondineme and Davenport helped secure the win as Three Rivers struggled offensively down the stretch, shooting just 30% from the field in the final quarter.
Scott led all scorers with a career-high 29 points, while Chase added 22. Ondineme recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. The Raiders finished the game shooting 52.7% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range while limiting their turnovers to just three in the second half.
Northwest Florida reached the 80-point mark for just the fifth time this season, well above their average of 67.5 points per game.
The Raiders have been dominant in second halves throughout the tournament, averaging 41 points per game in the final two quarters.
Their 13-point comeback is the largest deficit they have overcome since last season’s National Championship Game, where they also erased a 13-point gap to force overtime.
The team matched its season-low for personal fouls, committing just seven for the second consecutive game.
Northwest Florida will face No. 10 Eastern Arizona in the Final Four on Monday at 7:15 p.m. CDT as they continue their pursuit of a national championship.
