Eastern Florida State College's women's basketball team made history on March 13, 2026, defeating No. 1 seed Northwest Florida State 59-51 in the quarterfinals of the FCSAA Championship in Niceville. The Titans, who entered the game as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, advanced to Friday's semifinals with their first-ever win over the defending national champions.
The victory came despite Northwest Florida State's 25-game winning streak entering the matchup. Eastern Florida's defense held the top-seeded team to just 51 points, forcing 18 turnovers and limiting their star guard, Jaeda Thompson, to 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. "They called us the underdogs, but we believed in our preparation," said Titans head coach Latrece Johnson. "This team has fought for every possession all season."
Eastern Florida's offense found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Northwest Florida State 32-23 after halftime. Senior forward Tiana Rodriguez led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Kayla Simmons added 14 points on 5-of-7 three-point shooting. The win marks the first time a No. 8 seed has advanced to the FCSAA semifinals since the tournament expanded to eight teams in 2018.
The Titans will face No. 4 seed Florida Southwestern State in the semifinals on March 15 at Niceville High School. If they win, they would become the first No. 8 seed in tournament history to reach the final. "We're not done yet," Johnson said. "This is just the beginning for this program."