Bucs Knock Off Top-Ranked Chipola; Advance to Final Four

CASPER, Wyo. – Shelton State is going back to the Final Four.

No. 8 seed Shelton State knocked off No.1 Chipola 61-60 in the Elite Eight of the 2025 Credit Union I NJCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship presented by Zurich at the Ford Wyoming Center.

Freshman guard Alana Obinaozie hit a driving layup with six seconds left to provide the winning margin.

Obianozie led the Bucs with 17 points in the win. Sophomore forward Lameria Thomas added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Makala Hobdy added four points, four steals and 10 rebounds.

Shelton State (30-4) advances to the Final Four for the fifth time in school history. The Bucs also reached the Final Four in 2000, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2025.

Shelton State will play and No. 5 Dodge City CC on Monday, March 31 at 3 p.m. (CT). Dodge City defeated New Mexico JC 58-41 in the quarterfinals. All games are aired on ESPN Plus.

Shelton State took a 57-50 lead on an Obianozie jump shot with 4:26 left the game.

Chipola (31-4) would score 10 of the next 12 points to grab a 60-59 lead with 31 seconds to play.

Daniya McDonald buried a three-pointer with 3:26 left as the Indians cut the lead to 57-53. The Bucs would miss four straight field goals and four straight free throws before the Indians Alinda Dudley hit a layup with 1:41 left to cut the deficit to 57-55.

McDonald led all scorers with 18 points. Kanija Daniel added 16 points for the Indians.

Shelton State pushed the lead to 59-55 on a pair of Obianozie free throws with 1:06 left.

Aniyah Ruddock drilled a three-pointer with 54 seconds left to pull the Indians with one point at 59-58.

After a turnover by the Bucs, Serena Herren grabbed an offensive rebound and put the Indians up 60-59 with 36 seconds left.

Shelton State put the ball in Obianozie's hand, and she delivered the game-winner.  The freshman from Madison, Ala., scored the Bucs final six points in the win.

Chipola had a significant advantage at the free throw line, making 18-of-26 foul shots. Shelton State made 9-of-17 foul shots.

Shelton State led 17-15 after the first quarter, getting 12 points from Obianozie (7) and Thomas (5).

The Bucs scored 23 points in the second quarter to take a 40-33 halftime lead.

Chipola held Shelton State to 23 second half points. The Indians outscored the Bucs 12-10 in the third quarter and 15-11 in the fourth quarter but had no answer for Obianozie in the end.

With the quarterfinal win, Shelton State avenged an earlier loss to Chipola. The Indians defeated the Bucs 57-53 at the South Georgia Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.