A Look Back: 2010 FCCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 8, 2010) - FCCAA No. 4 Tallahassee Community College gave top-ranked Gulf Coast Community College all it could handle on Saturday evening, before the Lady Commodores escaped with a 54-51 win in the FCCAA/NJCAA Region VIII Women's Basketball Championship Game.

With the win, Gulf Coast moves on to Salina, Kan., where it will compete in the NJCAA Tournament.

In defeat, TCC (20-9) gave one of its better defensive efforts in recent memory, limiting the Lady Commodores to just 26.8 percent (15-of-56) shooting and 3-of-12 from the three-point stripe. FCCAA Player of the Year Andrea Smith scored a game-high 26 points for Gulf Coast, but hit only 8-of-25 from the floor.

For much of Saturday's game, the underdog Lady Eagles appeared poised for the upset.

TCC broke a 10-all tie with a 12-4 run, seizing a 22-14 lead with 4:38 left in the first half.

TCC took a 28-22 lead to the locker room.

Gulf Coast didn't take its first lead of the second half until Mary Nixon made a pair of free throws to put the Lady Commodores in front, 40-38, with 8:43 left in the game. Nixon's free throws were part of a 9-0 run that eventually gave Gulf Coast a 44-38 lead with just 7:07 remaining.

Just when it appeared the Lady Commodores were ready for one of their patented game-changing runs, TCC answered. A free throw by Keri Thomas ignited a 9-0 run by the Lady Eagles. Porche' Bentley's basket put TCC in front, 47-44, with 4:09 left.

With the game tied at 48-all, Smith forced a turnover and took the ball coast to coast to give Gulf Coast a two-point lead with 1:34 left.

The Lady Commodores didn't trail again but the game was far from over.

With a chance to tie the game, TCC's Mansa El made only one of two from the free throw line with 34 seconds left.

After Smith hit two for Gulf Coast, TCC answered once more on Ashley White's driving layup with seven seconds left.

Smith again hit two free throws, leaving the Lady Eagles with five seconds and one last opportunity to tie the game.

El, however, had the ball knocked away after crossing halfcourt and TCC was unable to launch a potential game-tying shot.

El finished with 13 points for TCC. White led the Lady Eagles with 16.

TALLAHASSEE (51) - Consolo Palmer, 2; Keri Thomas, 7; Tyesha Robinson, 2; Porche' Bentley, 7; Ashley White, 16; Samantha Smith, 4; Mansa El, 13.
GULF COAST (54) - Mary Nixon, 2; Andrea Smith, 26; Angie Felton, 9; Paige McCallum, 7; Porsha Harris, 1; Taylor Dalrymple, 9.

Halftime: Tallahassee 28, Gulf Coast 22
Records: Tallahassee (20-9), Gulf Coast (28-1)