Top-ranked Gulf Coast State holds on against TCC

Dustin Kent, Panama City News Herald, @PCNHDustinKent, contributed to this release 

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (January 18, 2020) – NJCAA and Region 8 No. 1 Gulf Coast State College fought off upset-minded Tallahassee Community College, 82-74, on Saturday afternoon in women's basketball action. 

Tallahassee, now 9-9 on the season, looked like anything but a 0-4 squad in the Panhandle Conference, save for a five-minute stretch to close the first half. 

The Eagles trailed 16-13 after the first quarter and used a 7-0 run to go in front, 24-22, near the midway point of the second. The Commodores answered with a three from Savannah Slade and a basket from D'Asia Gregg to go back in front, 27-24, at the 4:59 mark. That started a 20-5 run, ending with Gulf Coast State ahead 42-29 at the intermission. 

Tallahassee briefly trailed by as many as 15 early in the third before making things interesting. A 13-4 run cut the Commodores' lead to 55-51 with 2:30 left in the quarter, and the Eagles faced a 64-59 deficit heading to the fourth. 

Gulf Coast State stretched its lead back to eight four minutes into the final quarter, but Tallahassee refused to go away. The margin was six with four minutes to go, and the Eagles were within two with three minutes left. 

The Commodores scored the next seven points, however, to clinch the victory. 

Tallahassee was led by the Nikulochkina sisters, Polina and Ana, who scored 20 and 19 points, respectively. 

The Eagles will return to play next Saturday at Chipola College. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m.