NWF Loses Heartbreaker to Hutchinson in National Championship
CASPER, Wyo. — Northwest Florida State women's basketball lost a tightly contested game to Hutchinson in the National Championship Monday evening, falling to the Blue Dragons 88-80 in overtime after storming back from a double-digit deficit suffered in the first half.
Destiney McPhaul scored a game-high 30 points, surpassing her career-high of 29, which she set two nights ago against Wabash Valley. McPhaul and Deborah Davenport were honored as All-Tournament team recipients after four exceptional performances over the last week. McPhaul averaged 25.5 points per game in the tournament, while Davenport averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
Other notable Raider performances include Nevaeh Scott, who scored 13 points, five assists, and one rebound, and Celia Riviere, who scored ten points in the contest.
The Raiders and Blue Dragons played a tightly contested first quarter. Northwest Florida shot an efficient 63.6% clip from the field after hitting seven shots in the opening period. Hutchinson also connected on seven shots for a 53.8% clip but hit one more three than the Raiders, helping them to an 18-15 lead after the initial ten minutes of play.
However, Hutchinson began to assert dominance in the second quarter, amassing a 21-point quarter fueled by a 52.9% shooting performance and 11 total rebounds, extending their lead to double digits at halftime, with a 39-28 advantage over the Raiders. Despite Northwest Florida remaining within striking distance, turnovers plagued their performance, granting Hutchinson numerous opportunities.
The third quarter witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum as Northwest Florida emerged revitalized from the locker rooms. The Raiders orchestrated a 29-point surge in the third quarter, culminating in a 12-2 scoring run to claim a 57-55 lead, their first since the opening minutes of the game. McPhaul spearheaded the charge, notching an impressive 18 points in the period while showcasing solid defensive prowess with three steals.
The fourth quarter was gearing up to be a dogfight, but Northwest Florida was coming off a huge third period and seemed to have all the momentum. The Raiders continued to try and extend their lead, but the Blue Dragons had a response each time the Raiders scored. Northwest Florida finally put together a nice little scoring run under the six-minute mark to take a six-point lead with 3:25 left in the game. However, Hutchinson continued chipping into the Raiders' lead, eventually cutting it to a one-possession game with seconds remaining.
Northwest Florida had a three-point lead with 2.5 seconds left in the game and needed a stop to seal the deal. Hutchinson inbounded the ball on their side of the court and immediately took a shot from three, which missed. However, a whistle was blown, signifying a foul, meaning the Blue Dragons were going to the line for a chance to send this game into overtime. This would be the case as Hailey Jackson made all three chances, tying the game at 69 apiece and sending us to overtime.
In overtime, the Blue Dragons seized control, converting all six of their shot attempts and capitalizing on 7-10 free throw opportunities. Despite the Raiders' valiant efforts to stage another comeback, time elapsed, and Hutchinson emerged victorious with an 88-80 win, securing their maiden National Championship in program history.