NICEVILLE, Fl. — Tallahassee Community College's women's basketball team lost to Northwest Florida State College, 69-40, on Saturday evening.
The loss dropped Tallahassee to 12-12 overall and 3-7 in Panhandle Conference play with two games remaining. Northwest Florida State, meanwhile, locked up a share of the conference championship with the win.
Tallahassee's already thin roster suffered another blow on Thursday when leading scorer Polina Nikulochkina suffered an ankle injury in practice, leaving it with just six available players for Saturday. Nevertheless, the Eagles were game for the first 20 minutes.
Northwest Florida State led just 19-14 after a quarter and managed to extend the margin by just a single point, 33-27, at the half, thanks to 54.5 percent (6-of-11) shooting from the Eagles in the quarter.
The second half was a different story, however. Tallahassee scored just 13 points after the break, and the Raiders put the game away with a 19-4 third quarter.
Rita James scored 16 points to lead the Eagles. Ana Nikulochkina added 14.
Tallahassee will host Pensacola State College in its home finale at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
