JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Florida State College at Jacksonville defeated Palm Beach State College in Saturday's regular season finale, but the Panthers took two of three regular season meetings to claim the FCSAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship.

Palm Beach State head coach Tae Norwood, who was recognized as the FCSAA DII Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, was born a couple months after the Panthers last hoisted the FCSAA Champions trophy in March 1978. That fact wasn't lost upon him as he soaked in Saturday's win, one year after falling in the Championship Game. 

Entering the postseason with a 29-1 record and the NJCAA's No. 1 ranking, Palm Beach State needed a late rally to escape Florida Gateway College in Friday's semifinal round. No such heroics were needed Saturday. In fact, the Panthers never trailed, racing to a 10-2 less than seven minutes in. A 17-4 run all but put the game away en route to a 38-20 lead at the half. 

The Bobcats didn't get closer than 14 in the second half, as their season ends with a 13-19 record in head coach Phil Gafney's first season at the helm. 

Malcolm Warthen, who scored a tournament record 36 points in Pasco-Hernando State's semifinal upset over host Florida State College at Jacksonville, had 10 on Saturday and was named to the All-Tournament Team, along with teammate Joe Stosh, who posted a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Ben Koubek added 15 points. 

Carter Mungin led Palm Beach State with 16 points on 7-of-8-shooting. Sam Wolff had 12 while Robert Chandler and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Jovan Polavra had 11 each. 

Mung, Polavra and Marvin Golf were named to the All-Tournament Team from Palm Beach State. 

The Panthers will move on to the NJCAA DII Gulf South District Championship Game against Coastal Alabama Community College-North in Bay Minette, Ala., on March 7.