On a cool Monday evening, the top-ranked Northwest Florida State women’s basketball team stayed red hot inside Raider Arena, cruising to a 74-32 victory over Southwest Mississippi behind another balanced offensive effort and a smothering defensive performance.
The win pushes the Raiders to 4-0 on the season, as they now prepare to hit the road for their first stretch of games away from Niceville.
For the third straight game, five Raiders scored in double figures, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility. For the fourth consecutive contest, a new face led the way in scoring — this time it was Nafi Harz, who poured in 15 points on an efficient 5-for-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Niylia Wilkins, the Raiders’ leading scorer from game one, followed with 14 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Aurora Toyomasu stayed sharp from deep, knocking down four threes on her way to 12 points, while also grabbing three rebounds. Rounding out the double-digit contributors were Ka’Zahria Johnson and Khoudia Diagne, who each scored 10 points. Johnson recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, while Diagne nearly matched her with nine boards.
Northwest Florida shot 44.8% from the field — their lowest percentage of the season — but made up for it with 43.5% shooting from beyond the arc and strong play on both ends of the floor. The Raiders dominated the glass 39-20, and controlled possession, forcing 23 turnovers while committing just 15 of their own — another season low.
With another convincing performance in the books, the Raiders will look to carry their momentum on the road as they begin a challenging stretch of away and neutral-site matchups.
FIRST HALF
Northwest Florida wasted no time getting on the board, opening the game with two quick buckets inside to set the tone early. Southwest Mississippi briefly answered, but the Raiders quickly took control with a 10-0 run, capped off by a Niylia Wilkins three-pointer that extended the lead to 13-2 late in the first quarter. Moments later, Aurora Toyomasu buried her first triple of the night off a Jadah White assist, pushing the cushion to 17-4. The Bears managed to trim the deficit to ten before the buzzer, as the Raiders held a 17-7 lead after one.
The second quarter opened with a basket from Southwest Mississippi, but Nafi Harz responded immediately, pulling up from the top of the key to drain her first three of the night and restore a double-digit lead. The hot shooting continued as Toyomasu connected on two more threes, giving the Raiders a commanding 33-11 advantage. The Bears struggled to generate any offense, going nearly four minutes without a point, while Northwest Florida continued to dominate both ends of the floor. By halftime, the Raiders had built a comfortable 37-15 lead.
SECOND HALF
The Raiders picked up right where they left off to begin the second half. Wilkins converted a fast-break layup off a forced turnover, followed by baskets from Ka’Zahria Johnson and Khoudia Diagne, stretching the lead to 43-17 midway through the third quarter. Though the offense briefly stalled for about three minutes, the Bears couldn’t take advantage, scoring just once during that stretch.
Wilkins ended the drought with a pair of free throws, and Harz reignited the offense with another three-pointer late in the quarter. Heading into the fourth, Northwest Florida held a commanding 55-23 lead.
The final frame brought more of the same — and more threes. Jadah White, who had gone scoreless through the first three quarters, found her rhythm with a deep three from the wing. Carrington Jones followed with a layup to push the lead to 60, before Harz knocked down her fourth triple of the night to make it 67-23. Moments later, Toyomasu matched her with her fourth three-pointer, giving the Raiders a dominant 70-23 edge.
From there, it was smooth sailing. The Raiders cruised through the final minutes and sealed a 74-32 victory, improving to 4-0 on the season and continuing their early-season dominance.
THE ROAD AHEAD
After Monday’s matchup, the Raiders won’t return home for nearly a month. Their next six games will come on the road or at neutral sites, beginning with a trip to Fort Myers (Nov. 14–15) for the FSW Classic, where they’ll face Hillsborough and No. 18 Florida SouthWestern.
They’ll then travel to Panama City (Nov. 21–22) for another classic against Mineral Area and Central Georgia Tech, before wrapping up the month at the Pensacola Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 28–29) with matchups against Eastern Florida and St. Petersburg.
