Northwest Florida’s Season Ends in Second Round of NJCAA Championship

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Northwest Florida women's basketball saw its season come to a close with a 64–53 loss to No. 14 seed Hutchinson in the second round of the NJCAA Championship.

The Raiders struggled to find consistency on the offensive end, particularly in the second quarter where they were held scoreless. Northwest Florida shot 36.8% from the floor and 26.3% from beyond the arc, while committing 12 turnovers. Typically strong on the glass, the Raiders were outmatched by the Blue Dragons, who held a 35–21 rebounding advantage, including a 13–5 edge on the offensive boards.

Khoudia Diagne, the team's leading scorer, was limited throughout the night, going scoreless through the first three quarters before finishing with six points. Jadah White led the way with 15 points, while Kamryn Corporan and Shakira Gresham each added 11. The rest of the team combined for just 16 points.

Hutchinson got on the board first with a three-pointer from Whitney Brown, quickly building a 5–0 lead. The Raiders answered behind White, who knocked down a pair of early threes to tie the game at 8–8. Northwest Florida gained momentum late in the first quarter, using a strong defensive stretch to fuel a 13–2 run. Steals from Corporan and Diagne, along with a late jumper from Corporan, helped the Raiders take a 21–10 lead after one.

The second quarter proved to be the turning point. Hutchinson chipped away with back-to-back threes from Brown and Katie Duncan and controlled the offensive glass. A 16–0 run flipped the game, turning a double-digit deficit into a 26–21 halftime lead as the Raiders were held scoreless in the period.

Hutchinson carried that momentum into the third quarter with an 11–0 run to extend the lead to 32–21. Northwest Florida responded briefly, cutting the deficit to six behind baskets from Ka'Zahria Johnson and Corporan, but couldn't sustain the push. Turnovers and second-chance opportunities continued to favor the Blue Dragons, who led 39–31 heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Hutchinson stretched the lead to as many as 16 after another three from Duncan. The Raiders made one last push, trimming the deficit to seven in the closing moments following a Corporan three, but clutch free throws from Brown sealed the 64–53 result.

Despite a strong start, Northwest Florida was ultimately undone by scoring droughts, turnovers, and Hutchinson's dominance on the boards.

The Raiders wrap up the season with a 24–5 overall record, including a 10–2 mark in conference play. The year was highlighted by an eighth straight conference championship and a ninth consecutive postseason appearance.