The Fourth Annual Florida Women's JuCo Shootout comes to our fair campus Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5. The event features eight teams from around the state, including four ranked in the FCCAA's top 10 (Nov. 25). Here's the schedule, followed by a few items of interest:
Friday
1 pm - Brevard (3-3) vs. FSC-Jacksonville (3-6)
3 pm - (2) Northwest Florida State (7-0) vs. Palm Beach (2-2)
5 pm - (3) Pensacola (8-1) vs. (7) Indian River State (4-1)
7 pm - Broward (0-3) vs. (6) Central Florida (8-1)
Saturday
1 pm - (3) Pensacola vs. Broward
3 pm - (7) Indian River State vs. (2) Northwest Florida State
5 pm - FSC-Jacksonville vs. Palm Beach
7 pm - Brevard vs. (6) Central Florida
MARQUEE MATCHUPS: In addition to a pair of Lady Patriot games, attendees will be treated to two games between ranked teams as No. 7 Indian River State runs a gauntlet of third-ranked Pensacola and second-ranked Northwest Florida State.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: The Shootout includes all three of the FCCAA Women's Basketball Players of the Week to date this season. Pensacola guard Deana Allen won Nov. 10; Northwest Florida State wing Josette Campbell won Nov. 17 and Indian River State forward Shantale Bramble-Donaldson won Nov. 24.
HOME TEAM TALENT: The best player to not yet win a player of the week award is Central Florida sophomore Markeshia Grant. The 5-7 sophomore guard sports averages of 24 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.6 steals per game while shooting 53 percent from the field, 35 percent on 3-pointers and 78 percent from the free-throw line.
FITTING NAME: The nation's two most prolific scorers will be on display at the Shootout. Pensacola's Allen leads the NJCAA in scoring with a 25.1 average, followed by Grant's 24 points per game. Northwest Florida's Campbell, meanwhile, ranks sixth nationally at a 22.2 clip.
PANHANDLE POWER: Northwest Florida State, formerly Okaloosa-Walton College, joins top-ranked Gulf Coast as the state's only undefeated teams. CF head coach Cheryl Rice led the program to consecutive state championships in 1995 and 1996 before returning to her alma mater.
LAST CHANCE: The Shootout is the last opportunity to see the Lady Patriots in action before the new year. CF plays six consecutive road games before hosting Chipola on Saturday, Jan. 2.
ADMISSION: Admission to each day's slate of game is $10, or $3 for the Lady Patriots' game only. As always, CFCC students get in free.
