Northwest Florida State Advances to Fourth Straight FCSAA Championship with Gritty Win Over Eastern Florida

NICEVILLE, Fla. — For the fourth consecutive year, Bart Walker and the Northwest Florida State women's basketball team are heading to the FCSAA State/NJCAA Region VIII Championship after securing a hard-fought 55-47 victory over (5) Eastern Florida.

The defending champions will now face (2) Chipola in Saturday's title game at 2:00 p.m., looking to claim back-to-back championships. The two teams have met three times this season, with Chipola taking the first matchup in Marianna on January 25 (67-57). However, the Raiders responded with victories in the next two meetings—one in Niceville (57-50) and another in Marianna (80-69). Northwest Florida State seeks its fourth championship in the last six years, while Chipola looks to reclaim the crown for the first time since 2021.

Friday's semifinal was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling offensively. They combined to miss 79 shots, shooting around 30% from the field and under 20% from beyond the arc. The Raiders narrowly edged the Titans in rebounding (43-42), while both teams committed 10 turnovers. Ultimately, Northwest Florida State's efficiency at the free-throw line (15-of-19) proved to be the difference.

The Raiders controlled the game from start to finish, jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintaining a 28-18 advantage at halftime. However, offensive struggles plagued both teams in the third quarter, with each shooting below 30% from the field.

Eastern Florida made a late push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to single digits and closing within six points in the final two minutes. However, the Raiders held firm defensively, preventing the Titans from getting any closer. Clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch—going a perfect 8-for-8 in the final minutes—sealed the victory and punched Northwest Florida State's ticket to the championship game.

Following the win, head coach Bart Walker reflected on the opportunity to compete for another state championship and the potential to secure the No. 1 seed for the NJCAA Tournament.

"We're excited about the opportunity to play for it again on our home court in front of our fans," Walker said. "Hopefully, we will come out and be very resilient and tough tomorrow."

Postgame Notes

• Mekhia Chase (13), Nevaeh Scott (11), and Kyla McBride (11) led the Raiders in scoring, while Deborah Davenport dominated the boards with 14 rebounds.
• Davenport has been a force on the glass throughout the tournament, grabbing a total of 35 rebounds in two games.
• The Raiders shot 33.9% from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc.
• Northwest Florida State narrowly edged Eastern Florida in rebounding, 43-42.
• Bart Walker and the Raiders have now won 18 consecutive games at Raider Arena, a streak dating back to February 28 of last season.
• The Raiders remain undefeated at 27-0 when holding opponents under 60 points.