Women's basketball wins FCSAA Division II championship for the fourth time in a row

The Palm Beach State College women's basketball team claimed the FCSAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday, Feb. 28. 

Palm Beach State locked up the championship and berth in the NJCAA DII Gulf South District Championship Game by defeating the Florida State College at Jacksonville Manta Rays on Jan. 24 (64-57) and Feb. 14 (68-63) which rendered Saturday's third meeting meaningless from a postseason standpoint. That didn't deter the Manta Rays, however. 

After some early back-and-forth action, FSCJ surged to a 20-9 lead after one quarter and led 31-24 at the intermission. 

Nyeemah Dixon led the Manta Rays with 17 points while Leandrea McCloud recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. 

FCSAA Player of the Year Janiah Suprius led all scorers with 21 points for Palm Beach State. Thatiyana Holiday added 11 and Adrianna Skraban, 10.

Palm Beach State's Maureen Smith was named FCSAA DII Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. 

The Panthers will head to Bay Minette, Ala., for a March 7 game against Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Community College at 1 p.m. central time. 

This will be their third consecutive appearance in the District Championship Game. They won the FCSAA Championship for the fourth time in a row and are in a quest to make their first NJCAA National Tournament.