MARIANNA, Fla. – When the Chipola women's and men's basketball teams last met the Commodore basketball teams on February 7, they were both coming off of back-to-back Panhandle losses. With two wins on that Wednesday evening against their rival from Panama City, the #21 Lady Indians and the #11 Indians have reeled off four consecutive wins with two games left to play.

Chipola will travel to Billy Harrison Fieldhouse on the campus of Gulf Coast State College this afternoon hoping to continue their streaks. Women tip off at 2 PM with the men to follow at 4 PM.

#21 Lady Indians (22-6; 6-4 PC) vs. #4 Gulf Coast Lady Commodores (22-3; 7-2)

The Lady Indians will be looking to keep their Panhandle Conference title hopes alive with a win this afternoon against the Lady Commodores. With a win today and a win against Tallahassee on Saturday plus a little help next week, Chipola could end the regular season in a three-way tie with Gulf Coast and Northwest Florida. This would make all three schools Conference Champions.

Also, with a win this afternoon, Chipola would clinch their fourth consecutive trip to the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament on March 14-16 at Raider Arena in Niceville. This would be a remarkable accomplishment for a team that was put together in the late spring of 2023 following a coaching change and returned only three players, including just one starter from a year ago.

Chipola will also be looking to win the season series with the Lady Commodores after the two teams won their home game earlier this season. Gulf Coast dominated the Lady Indians in Panama City on January 20 to take an 83-55 win. Chipola got their revenge at The Milt on February 7 with an 86-80 thrilling overtime win over the #1 ranked Lady Commodores.

Game Notes:

• In Gulf Coast's last game at Pensacola, the Lady Pirates came from behind to take a 50-48 win over the Lady Commodores. With three games remaining on their schedule, Gulf Coast's magic number to claim at least a share of the conference title is two.
• With a win this afternoon, Chipola could win the season series over Gulf Coast for the first time since the 2021 season. The Lady Commodores have won the series the last two years, going 2-1 a season ago and 3-1 in 2021-2022. Chipola last won the season series in 2020-2021, when the Lady Indians swept the Commodores 5-0 including a win in the FCSAA/Region VIII State Championship.
• Chipola is 5-5 this season against opponents ranked in the NJCAA DI Poll. The Lady Indians have defeated two teams that have spent time this season at #1. In the current poll, Chipola has wins against the numbers 4, 5, 6, and 14 teams.
• Chipola sophomore Tahnyjia Purifoy, last week's FCSAA/Region VIIII Player of the Week is sixth in the NJCAA in total points with 531. She is tenth in points per game, averaging 19.7. In 10 games against ranked opponents, Purifoy is averaging 22.0.

#11 Indians (24-4; 8-2 PC) vs. Gulf Coast Commodores (16-11; 2-7 PC)

The #11 Indians will be looking to claim at least a share of their fourth consecutive Panhandle Conference Championship with a win over the Commodores this afternoon. Chipola holds a one game lead over Northwest Florida and can claim the conference title outright with any combination of two wins or Raiders' losses.

Chipola sealed its berth into the FCSAA/Region State Tournament with a 73-49 win over Pensacola State at the Milt last Wednesday night. Gulf Coast, losers of their last six games, are in fifth place in the standings and would be in danger of being eliminated from postseason opportunities with a loss.

Chipola can claim back-to-back season series sweeps with a win over the Commodores on Saturday. The last time Gulf Coast defeated Chipola was a 79-74 win in Panama City on January 17, 2022. Chipola has won seven consecutive games against the Commodores since that loss. In their two previous meetings this season, the games have been decided by four and two points.

Game Notes:

• Chipola is 11-2 against the Commodores under Coach Donnie Tyndall, including the last seven in the series. The only two losses were in the Billy Harrison Fieldhouse in the first meetings of each of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
• Chipola jumped to 11^th in the latest NJCAA Rankings and 3^rd in the FCSAA. The Indians are 9^th in the current national Massey Ratings.
• Chipola has held their last two opponents to under 50 points. Last Saturday, Chipola held Northwest Florida to 41 on their home floor then held Pensacola to 49 at The Milt on Wednesday night.
• Chipola is 8^th in the NJCAA in points allowed. The Indians are holding their opponents to just 62.9 points per game. With 11.4 steals per game, Chipola is 13^th in the NJCAA.

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