NICEVILLE, Fla. – The Region 8 Tournament's top-seed and NJCAA No. 2 ranked Eastern Florida State College Titans flexed its muscle in an 82-34 win over Santa Fe College women's basketball on Wednesday at Raider Arena, concluding the Saints 2022-2023 season in Niceville. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Se'Lah Reddick had a nice drive and finish off the glass from inside the paint to open the game's scoring, but the bucket then became closed for the Saints…

Top-seeded Eastern Florida clamped down defensively and took over the ball game to lead 17-2 at the end of the first quarter.

The Titans' run extended to 25 unanswered points, as EFSC staked claim to a 25-2 lead in the beginning of the second quarter.

Reddick stopped the run with another driving bucket, and Isabella Reynolds had a putback followed by a triple for SF to bring the score to 27-9 at the midway point of the second quarter.

The Titans quickly countered with a three-pointer of their own and went on to hold the 35-13 lead at the conclusion of the first 20 minutes of play.

SF went just 4-of-25 from the field, and EFSC outrebounded the Saints 28-12 in the first half.

The Saints started to find a few baskets at the start of the third quarter, and Reynolds had a nice scoop lay-in to reach eight points for the team-high for the Saints.

Isabella Reynolds with the circus layup for @SFSaintswbk pic.twitter.com/Ga0AXsa0ey

— Region 8 Basketball (@Region8Tourney) March 9, 2023

SF couldn't slow down the Titans, however, and Shadaria Smith heated up from beyond the arc in the third quarter. The Titans went on a 10-0 run in the frame and led 59-25 headed into the fourth quarter on the strength of Smith's four trifectas.

The fourth quarter was more of the same, and although Casey Lewis found herself two smooth baskets off the bench, the Titans cruised to the 82-34 win on the neutral floor to advance in the bracket.

Casey Lewis with the kiss off the glass pic.twitter.com/zSVAZD1V4P

— Region 8 Basketball (@Region8Tourney) March 9, 2023

With the win, EFSC swept the season series with SF 4-0, and moved on to play the winner of the No. 4-seeded Indian River Pioneers and the No. 5-seeded St. Petersburg College.

KEY STATISTICS

SF was outsized and outrebounded, 56-19.

The Titans shot 50 percent from the floor led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Elli Garnett, while SF finished just 12-of-54 from the field (22.2 percent).

Defensively, SF was able to force the Titans into 18 turnovers with nine off Saints' steals.

They didn't often lead to baskets on the other end, however, as Reynolds was the team's leading scorer with eight points in a game in which the Saints were held to a season-low scoring total. Triniti Youngblood had seven points and six rebounds, and Reddick contributed six points, four rebounds, and a team-high three steals.

Off the SF bench, Khaleah Douglas had seven points and Lewis chipped in with four.

THE 2022-2023 SEASON'S CONCLUSION…

Santa Fe's 2022-2023 season concluded with a mark of 13-16 overall, and the Saints' appearance in the FCSAA/Region 8 State Tournament was the program's 22nd overall and first since the 2019-2020 season.

After a sensational sophomore season, Malea Brown was named to the All-FCSAA/All NJCAA Region 8 Team and honored postgame alongside the rest of the recipients, which can be found in the FCSAA release below.

Women's All-FCSAA/NJCAA All-Region 8 Team

Photo Credit: Liz Kasey, Gulf Coast State College