The Chipola women's and men's basketball team play their first game of 2022 on Tuesday night at the Milton H. Johnson Center. Both teams are looking for a repeat of their State Championships from a year ago as they open Panhandle Conference play with the Tallahassee Community College Eagles.
#6 Lady Indians (15-1) vs. Lady Eagles (3-13), 5:30 PM CST
The Chipola women take to the court tonight looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 71-51 defeat by #5 Shelton State Community College at the Lake Charles New Year's Classic.
The Lady Indians won all four games between the schools last season and have a five-game winning streak against the Lady Eagles.
Sophomores Jordan McLaughlin and Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins have led the team in points throughout the non-conference portioon of the season. McLaughlin is averaging 16.8 points per game and had a career-high, 37 points, back on November 12 against Seward County Community College. Wright-Gaskins is averaging 16.6 points per game and scored a career-high, 34 points, on opening night against Denmark Technical College.
The Lady Indians are in the top ten of several offensive statistics including: 84.9 points per game (8th); 48.1 FG percentage (2nd); 54.6 rebounds per game (2nd); and 20.4 assists per game (6th). Defensively, Chipola is first in the country in steals per game with 23.2 and fourth in opponents' field goal percentage, holding opponents to 30.5 percent from the floor.
The Lady Eagles have lost their last five games heading into Panhandle Conference play. They are led by a pair of sophomore sisters from Moscow, Russia. Ana Nikulochkina averages 16.4 points per game and Polina Nikulochkina averages 14.7. Tallahassee averages 54.7 points per game and is shooting 45.3 percent from the field.
#6 Indians (14-2) vs. Eagles (15-3), 7:30 PM CST
In the 2020-2021 the Indians and the Eagles were two of the best teams in the nation. The teams split their four games last season and shared the Panhandle Conference Championship. Both teams appear to be set to make a run in 2022 for not only conference championships, but state and national championships as well.
Both teams are in the Region 8 Coaches' Poll with Chipola currently ranked #2 and Tallahassee ranked #6. The Indians are 6th in the NJCAA Rankings and second in the Massey Ratings. The Eagles are not ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 Poll but are receiving votes and currently listed at 10th in the Massey Ratings.
Sophomore Nae'qwan Tomlin and freshman Shay Davis have led the Indians through the non-conference portion of the schedule. Tomlin is averaging 14.0 points per game and shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. Davis leads the team in three-point baskets with 51 and is shooting 48.0 percent from the floor. He is averaging 13.5 points per game and has hit eight three-pointers in two different games, November 1 against Davidson-Davie Community College and December 10 against Gadsden State.
The Indians are averaging 84.6 points per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, including 39.0 percent from three-point range. Defensively, Chipola is holding their opponents to 61.9 points per game and 37.9 percent shooting from the floor.
Tallahassee is led by a pair of freshman. Anthony Thomas, a 6'7 guard from Silver Springs, Maryland is averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting 49 percent from the floor. Dericko Williams, a 6'8 forward from Kinston, North Carolina, averages 12.9 points per game while shooting 58.1 percent.
The Eagles average 82.1 points per game. They are 9th in the country in defensive rebounds, averaging 32.5 boards per game. Tallahassee is holding their opponents to 60.6 points per game.
Elsewhere in the Panhandle Conference Tonight
Northwest Florida State College is on the road at Gulf Coast State College.
Pensacola State is idle.
Stay Connected
All Chipola women's and men's basketball home games are livestreamed on Youtube.
You can also follow our teams by going to ChipolaAthletics.com or the social media accounts linked below.
- Facebook: Chipola Athletics
- Twitter: @ChipolaNation @ChipolaHoops @ChipolaWBB @Chipola_BSB @ChipolaSoftball