Women's basketball team advances to semifinals
The Eastern Florida State College women's basketball team advanced to the FCSAA State Tournament semifinals for the first time in four years on Thursday afternoon.
The Titans defeated Daytona State College 61-48 in the first quarterfinal of the day at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida. It marked the fourth time this season the Titans have defeated the Falcons, this time ending Daytona State College's season.
"Playing Daytona, who is very talented and a well-coached team, for the fourth time, we knew was going to be a challenge!" Eastern Florida State College women's basketball coach MJ Baker said. "We had to grind it out and earn the win. I'm so proud of the team's toughness and how they played together today."
Eastern Florida State College got off to a slow start but hit some more shots in the second quarter to head into halftime with a 26-19 lead.
The Titans came out in the third quarter aggressively, holding Daytona State College to 11 points in the quarter while scoring 23 to hold a 19-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Daytona State College would cut the lead to eight with 3:17 left but Kaitlyn Sanders hit another big shot to make sure the game would get no closer.
The win is No. 26 on the season for the Titans who have now won 14 straight games.
Sanders finished with a game-high 17 points including three big 3-pointers. Teammate Rapuluchi Ngorka had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the game, marking the 16th time this season the forward has recorded a double-double. Tatiana Beaumont also hit three 3-pointers t finish with nine points as seven players scored in the Titans win.
Eastern Florida State College will play Indian River State College, who defeated No. 3 Gulf Coast, in the first semifinal on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. EST.
Kaitlyn Sanders, Shadaria Smith and Rapuluchi Ngorka named to All-State team, cick here for more information.