Chipola rallies to knock off Eagle women

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 13, 2016) – NJCAA No. 6/Region 8 No. 3 Chipola College closed the game on a 35-18 run and knocked off Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College on Saturday evening in women's basketball action. 

Despite the loss, Tallahassee (15-13) maintained sole possession of third place in the Panhandle Conference standings thanks to Northwest Florida State College's loss at home to Gulf Coast State College. 

The Eagles are 4-7, one half game head of the Raiders (3-7), and have one game remaining – next Saturday's regular season finale at Northwest Florida State. 

Before that game, however, Northwest Florida State will travel to Chipola on Tuesday, a game that will have an impact on next Saturday's finale. 

If Northwest Florida State wins at Chipola, the winner of next Saturday's game will advance to the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Basketball Tournament. 

However, if Northwest Florida State loses on Tuesday, Tallahassee will carry a one-game lead into the finale where a win will send the Eagles into the postseason while a loss will result in a one-game playoff with the Raiders. 

After trailing by nine (20-11) at the end of the first quarter, Tallahassee outscored Chipola 19-12 in the second to pull within two points (32-30) at the half. 

The Eagles led 49-42 with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter, but Chipola closed to within four points (52-48) by the end of the period and outscored Tallahassee 29-15 in the fourth to complete the comeback. 

Eboni Watts, playing her final home game for the Eagles, scored a team-high 18 points. Sabrina Banks added 15 while Lawriell Wilson scored 13 and Janessa Murphy, 10. 

Tallahassee and Northwest Florida State will tip off at 6:30 p.m. eastern next Saturday night.