By: Rolando Rosa - JCFloridan.com Photo: Kristie Cloud
The Panhandle Conference title is on the line when the top two JUCO women's basketball teams in Florida face off on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Niceville.
No. 1 state ranked and No. 3 nationally ranked Chipola (26-1, 10-1) already clinched a share of the conference title with a 77-42 victory on Tuesday vs. Tallahassee but to win the conference outright will have to defeat No. 2 state ranked and No.5 nationally ranked Raiders (24-2, 9-2) on their home court in the season finale.
Chipola's lone loss this season was a 67-54 defeat at Northwest Florida State on Jan. 17. The Lady Indians took the rematch 64-62 in Marianna on Jan. 31.
Both teams are virtually mirror-images offensively. Chipola scores 80.2 ppg while Northwest Florida State averages 80. The Lady Indians shoot 48.7 percent; the Lady Raiders are at 48.5 percent. Chipola dishes out 19.3 assists per game and Northwest Florida State has 19.5 per game.
Heading into the final game of the regular season, Chipola sophomore Evelyn Akhator is averaging 22.5 points per game, 16.5 rebounds per game and 3.0 blocks per game. Lady Indians sophomore guard Sueterrica Key is posting 16.6 points per game and 1.8 steals per game.
The Lady Raiders are coming off a 64-61 road victory on Tuesday at Gulf Coast State. Daniela Wallen leads Northwest Florida State in scoring with 15.3 per game, followed by Simone Westbrook with 14.3.
The state tournament is March 4 to March 7 in Ocala, FL.