Eastern Arizona College Falls in Final Four Battle Against Northwest Florida State

Casper, WY – The Eastern Arizona College women's basketball team saw their impressive season come to an end in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament semifinal on Monday, March 31, as they fell to No. 3 Northwest Florida State College, 70-60. Despite playing without two starters, the Lady Monsters fought hard but ultimately couldn't overcome the Raiders' strong defensive presence.

From the opening tip, Northwest Florida's defense set the tone, forcing EAC to find opportunities at the free-throw line. The Lady Monsters struggled to get shots to fall early and ending the period trailing 23-12.

Momentum started to shift in the second quarter as Eanae Dagons and Lucia Auza knocked down key three-pointers, closing the gap to just five points at 25-20 with 5:29 remaining in the half. However, the Raiders responded and extended their lead to 41-31 by halftime.

The Lady Monsters worked to stay within striking distance throughout the third quarter, keeping the deficit at ten points for most of the period. With just over a minute left, Phalan Sigers cut the lead to seven, giving EAC a glimmer of hope. However, Northwest Florida maintained their composure, holding off EAC's late-game push to secure the victory.

EAC finished the game shooting 22-for-67 from the field, pulling down 29 rebounds, and tallying nine assists. They scored 30 of their 60 points in the paint but couldn't overcome the Raiders' defensive pressure.

This marks the second consecutive year the Lady Monsters have reached the Final Four, further cementing their status as a national powerhouse. While the season didn't end with a championship, their resilience and back-to-back deep tournament runs highlight the program's growing legacy. Go Monsters!