Second half surge sends NWF State past Tallahassee women

By Erica Lewis, TCC Sports Information 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 7, 2015) – FCSAA fourth-ranked Tallahassee Community College lost a hard-fought game to second-ranked Northwest Florida State College, 72-60, on Saturday evening in Panhandle Conference women's basketball action. 

Tallahassee is now 4-5 in PC play, just one-half game ahead of fourth-place Gulf Coast State College (3-5) for the third and final berth to the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Basketball Tournament. Those two teams will meet in a crucial game next Saturday evening at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.  The Eagles are 19-8 overall. 

Both teams came out with high intensity and Northwest Florida State maintained the lead throughout most of the half. But the teams eventually went to the locker room tied at 36-all when Tallahassee's Cat Wells knocked down a buzzer beater from 25 feet. 

After trailing by as many as nine early in the second half, Tallahassee fought back and pulled to within three (56-53) on Karley Barnes' basket at the 8:36 mark. Northwest Florida State answered, however, with eight unanswered points over the next two minutes to regain control. 

Wells led Tallahassee with 19 points and seven assists. Barnes added a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

Daniela Wallen and Simone Westbrook scored 15 and 11 points, respectively, for Northwest Florida State. 

Before next Saturday's home finale, the Eagles will travel to Pensacola State College on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. eastern tip against the Pirates.