Scott and Chase Lead Northwest Florida’s Second-Half Comeback to Final Four

CASPER, Wyo. — Northwest Florida State women's basketball faced a daunting challenge in the NJCAA DI Basketball Championship Quarterfinals but rose to the occasion in dramatic fashion. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Raiders stormed back behind standout performances from Nevaeh Scott and Mekhia Chase, defeating No. 6 Three Rivers 83-78 on Saturday night. The victory sends Northwest Florida to its third consecutive Final Four and fourth in the last five seasons.

The game started with an offensive explosion from Three Rivers, which came out firing from beyond the arc. The opposing Raiders connected on six three-pointers in the first quarter alone, quickly putting Northwest Florida on its heels. However, despite the early deficit, Northwest Florida kept its composure and responded with an 8-0 run to close the period, trimming what was once a double-digit deficit down to just one point.

The momentum from the first quarter did not carry over into the second, as Northwest Florida struggled to find offensive rhythm. The Raiders made just one field goal in the first six minutes of the period and committed eight turnovers, allowing Three Rivers to regain control of the game. Despite their opponent's inefficiency from the field, Northwest Florida found itself trailing by multiple possessions once again. But as the half wound down, the Raiders showed some signs of life offensively, cutting the deficit to six at the break, 39-33.

At halftime, the biggest difference in the game was ball control. Northwest Florida had committed 13 turnovers compared to Three Rivers' five, making it difficult to generate consistent offensive production. Yet, the Raiders were still outshooting their opponent (50.0%-33.3%) and controlling the glass (22-15), proving they were still very much in the game.

Three Rivers started the second half just as it had the first, knocking down a three-pointer to extend its lead. However, Chase provided an immediate spark, scoring back-to-back layups, followed by a clutch three-pointer from Kyla McBride to cut the deficit to four. Just when it seemed Northwest Florida had found its footing, Three Rivers went on a 12-3 scoring run over the next four minutes, opening up its largest lead of the night at 13 points.

Refusing to let the game slip away, Northwest Florida mounted a furious comeback. A 16-4 run to close the third quarter—powered by Scott, Chase, McBride, and Jade Ondineme—erased the deficit and tied the game at 59 heading into the final period. Though Three Rivers managed to take a 61-59 edge into the fourth, the momentum had completely shifted in Northwest Florida's favor.

Scott and Chase took over in the final frame, combining for the Raiders' next 13 points and propelling them to their first lead of the game with just over two minutes remaining. Three Rivers managed to cut the lead to three, but Davenport and Ondineme responded with back-to-back layups, giving Northwest Florida a seven-point cushion with just over a minute to play.

Desperate for a late rally, Three Rivers searched for offense but struggled mightily down the stretch, shooting just 6-of-20 (30.0%) from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in the final period. The deficit proved too much to overcome, and Northwest Florida completed the hard-fought comeback victory.

With the win, the Raiders secure their fourth Final Four appearance in the last five years and continue their pursuit of a national championship. The team will play (10) Eastern Arizona who advanced to the final four after defeating (2) Wabash Valley earlier 64-59. That game is scheduled for Monday at 7:15 p.m. (CDT).

Postgame Notes

• After tying her career high with 20 points in Thursday's game, Nevaeh Scott set a new personal best, leading all scorers with 29 points in tonight's contest.
• Mekhia Chase's 22-point performance marked her fourth 20+ point outing of the season, finishing just one point shy of matching her career high of 23.
• Jade Ondineme notched her first career double-double, contributing 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
• The Raiders reached the 80-point mark for just the fifth time this season, well above their season average of 67.5 points per game.
• Northwest Florida shot an efficient 52.7% from the field, including an impressive 45.5% from beyond the arc. They also had one of their better free-throw performances of the season, converting 20-of-27 attempts (71.4%).
• After committing 13 turnovers in the first half, the Raiders made a significant adjustment, turning the ball over just three times in the second half.
• The team matched its season-low for personal fouls, committing just seven for the second consecutive game.
• The Raiders have been dominant in second halves throughout the tournament, averaging 41 points per game in the final two quarters, including 32 in the first round and 50 in this game.
• Their 13-point comeback was the largest deficit they have overcome since last season's National Championship Game, where they also erased a 13-point gap to force overtime.