NICEVILLE, Fla. - A dominant third quarter sent Northwest Florida State College to a 63-59 victory over Gulf Coast State College in the FCSAA Division I/NJCAA South Atlantic District Women's Basketball Championship Game.

With the victory, the Raiders claimed one of the 16 automatic bids to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in Casper, Wyo. Gulf Coast State will await the release of the 24-team bracket on Sunday to see if it receives one of the tournament's eight at-large bids. 

The Commodores led 17-14 after the first quarter and the margin swelled to ten, 33-23, with just two minutes left in the half. The Raiders, however, scored six of the final eight points in the quarter to trim Gulf Coast State's led to 35-29 at the intermission. 

Northwest Florida State seized control with a 21-7 third quarter, including a 10-0 run to start the frame. 

The Commodores' first points of the quarter came at the 6:17 mark and they tied the game at 39-all on a basket by Alieghya Bartholomew. On the ensuing possession, Destiney McPhaul's lay-in put the Raiders' back in front to stay, and they carried a 50-42 lead to the final quarter. 

Northwest Florida State's lead hit a dozen, 54-42, two minutes into the fourth and it wasn't until Raiane Dos Santos banked in a three from the top of the key with 13 seconds left that the Commodores got within one possession (61-59).

Neveah Scott's free throws sealed the win. 

Celia Riviere posted a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds, to earn the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player honors. She was joined on the FCSAA All-Tournament Team by teammates Deborah Davenport, Destiney McPhaul and Mya Pierfax. 

Bartholomew, who scored 19 points, was one of four Commodores selected, along with Santos, Aryelle Stevens and Alisha Murray. 

Also selected to the All-Tournament team were Chipola College's Tahnyjia Purifoy, Jasmine Jones and Kyrstin Green and Eastern Florida State College's Amelia Hassett. 

Northwest Florida State College's Bart Walker received the Roonie Scovel Award, presented to the FCSAA Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.