Women's basketball team plays for state tournament title tonight

Like March itself, The Eastern Florida State College women's basketball team came into the FCSAA State Tournament like a lion.

From the first time they stepped onto the court at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, they have looked like a team on a mission.

That mission was simple, to keep playing and in the process they have made quite a bit of history this week. In the quarterfinals, the Titans set a state tournament mark for 3-pointers in a game with 16 and advanced to the state tournament semifinals for just the third time in school history. Then on Friday night they became the first women's basketball team to ever win a state tournament semifinal game. 

Tonight, they could make a lot more history, becoming the first women's basketball team to win a state tournament championship and advance to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.

It won't be easy as they will face two-time defending state tournament champion and No. 2-ranked Gulf Coast State College who have won 11 state tournament championships.

"Gulf Coast is a real disciplined team with a lot of talented players that like to push the ball so we are going to have to control the boards and try to keep them to one and done," Eastern Florida State College women's basketball coach MJ Baker said. "We are going to have to play smart and together once again if we are going to have any success against them."

Gulf Coast is led by Shayla Bennett who comes into the game averaging 28 points a game and was the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year. 

The Titans come in averaging 88 points per game in the tournament. Alexandrine Obouh Fegue is averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds per game while point guard Brianna Lewis is averaging 15 points and 12 assists.

Mariah Batz comes into the championship game with 13 3-pointers in the first two games, closing in on the tournament record of 17. The sophomore from Titusville is averaging 24.5 points per game.

Tonight's game begins at 7:30 p.m. in Ocala and can be watched live online here.