GAME PREVIEW: #3 vs #2 in Raider Arena TONIGHT

MARIANNA, Fla. – The #3 Chipola Lady Indians and the #2 Northwest Florida Raiders will meet for the second time this season on Wednesday night. Chipola defeated then #1 NWF, 67-57, in a battle of two unbeatens back on January 25 at the Milton H. Johnson Center. Both teams come into the game tied atop the Panhandle Conference standings with 5 wins and 1 loss. With a win, Chipola can take the season series with the Raiders for the first time since the 2016-17 season when the Lady Indians won all three regular season games.

The Lady Indians bounced back to win their last two games following their first loss of the season back on January 29 to Gulf Coast, 77-75, in Panama City. Chipola defeated Pensacola 61-44 on February 1 and Tallahassee last Saturday to up their record to 23-1 overall.

Sophomore Kanija Daniel continues to lead Chipola and the FSCAA in scoring average. Her 21.5 points per game are fourth in the NJCAA. In the always tough Panhandle Conference, Daniel has bettered her season average by scoring 23.2 points per game. Daniel led all scorers with 25 points against the Raiders in the first meeting between the two teams.

The Lady Indians come into the game shooting 42.4% from the floor including 33.2% from behind the arc. Chipola is averaging 84 points per game while holding their opponents to 57.6 ppg.

GAME INFORMATION

Time: 5:15 PM CST

Location: Raider Arena – Niceville, Fla.

Streaming: #3 Chipola @ #2 Northwest Florida

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

The Raiders (21-1) captured their biggest win of the season on Saturday, taking out #8 Gulf Coast on the Lady Commodores' home floor, 76-52. NWF's second-leading scorer, Nevaeh Scott, had 19 in the win. The Raiders' leading scorer this season, Mekhia Chase, had 11 points in the win.

Northwest Florida enters Wednesday night's battle averaging 69.1 ppg while holding their opponents to 45.5 ppg. The Raiders shoot 45.9% from the floor which includes 33.6% from three-point range.

GAME NOTES

• Chipola is the only team to score more than 60 points against the Raiders all season. The Lady Indians scored 67 in their win on January 25.
• After losing 8 straight games to the Raiders, the Lady Indians have won the last two games between the rivals. Chipola won the last meeting between the two teams last season in Raider Arena, 62-56.
• Chipola has won two of their last three games in Raider Arena. Along with the win last season against the Raiders, Chipola was 1-1 in the 2024 FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament held in Niceville.