#TCCBasketball: Raiders rally to down Eagle women

NICEVILLE, Fla. (January 18, 2018) – NJCAA No. 4/Region 8 No. 3 Tallahassee Community College squandered a 13-point, third quarter lead and fell to No. 5/No. 2 Northwest Florida State College, 64-56, in Panhandle Conference women's basketball action on Thursday. 

Tallahassee is now 16-2 on the season, 1-2 in PC play. The Raiders improved to 18-1 and finished the first round of league play at 3-1. 

Tallahassee led 29-20 at the half and scored the first four points of the third quarter to open up a 33-20 lead. Seven unanswered points by the Raiders cut the Eagles' lead in half and served as a prelude to what was to come later in the quarter. 

When Jas Hill successfully converted a three-point play at the 2:26 mark, Tallahassee led 41-33. Over the next seven minutes, extending into the fourth quarter, Northwest Florida State outscored the Eagles, 19-3, to seize the momentum and take a 52-44 lead. 

The dry spell included a nine-plus minute stretch without a field goal. Hill ended that with a basket with 4:16 left in the game. 

Tallahassee slowly worked its way back into the game and only trailed 59-56 inside the final minute before the Raiders delivered the dagger. 

With the shot clock winding down, Georgia Gayle knocked down a three-pointer that all but wrapped up the win for the home team. 

Gayle finished with 11 points. 

Trinity Baptiste came off the bench to score 19 and pull down 10 rebounds, keying a 43-24 advantage on the glass for Northwest Florida State. 

Hill led Tallahassee with 21 points. Japonica James added 17. 

Tallahassee will return to play on Saturday when it hosts Pensacola State College. Game time is 5:30 p.m.