Pirates Fall Short in Battle Against No. 10 Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast 73 PSC 64

In a thrilling Panhandle Conference matchup, the Pensacola State Pirates dropped another hard-fought game to the No. 10 Gulf Coast State Commodores, falling 73-64. Despite a slow start, the Pirates showed resilience and determination throughout the contest.

The game began with the Pirates trailing 23-11 after the first period. However, they found their footing in the second period, outscoring the Commodores 19-13 to close the gap to 36-30 by halftime. Pensacola State continued their momentum in the third period, besting Gulf Coast 25-14 to take a 55-50 lead heading into the final quarter.

Unfortunately, the size advantage of the Commodores proved to be the difference in the game. Gulf Coast's dominance on the boards was evident as they outrebounded the Pirates 50-35. This advantage helped the Commodores outscore the Pirates 23-9 in the final period, securing their victory.

The Pirates had four players finish in double figures, led by Katiya Casey with 17 points. Jaida McDonald contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while Audreonia Benson and Taliah Kemp each added 11 points, with Kemp also dishing out nine assists.

Gulf Coast was led by a trio of double-digit scorers. Arianny Francisco De Olviera scored a game-high 24 points, Ja'Navia Gage added 18 points, and Alisha Murray chipped in with 11 points.

Next up for Pensacola State is a challenging matchup against No. 3 Chipola College on February 15, 2025, at Hartsell Arena. Chipola currently leads the three-game series against the Pirates 2-0.