Raiders Head to Fort Myers This Weekend for Pair of Matchups

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Top-ranked Northwest Florida State women's basketball has its first taste of road action this Friday and Saturday as the Raiders get set to play in the FSW Classic in Fort Myers, FL hosted by Florida Southwestern.

The Matchups

The Raiders hit the road this weekend for a pair of matchups against Region VIII opponents, Hillsborough and No. 18 Florida Southwestern. Northwest Florida opens play Friday against Hillsborough, who sit at 2-1 on the season following a recent loss to Barton College. The Raiders will then close out the trip with their first top-25 test of the year, taking on No. 18 Florida Southwestern (2-1), who dropped their season opener to No. 13 Chattahoochee Valley before rebounding with wins over USC Salkehatchie and Palm Beach (DII).

Where to Watch

Fans can stream all the action on the Florida Southwestern website by clicking HERE

Firing on All Cylinders

Through four games, the Raiders have looked every bit like the top-ranked team in the nation. The team is rocking a 4-0 record having outscored their opponents by an average of 45 points per game. Offensively, they're averaging 90 points per game while shooting an ultra-efficient 58.5% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range.

Nationally, Northwest Florida ranks 13^th in points per game, 10th in field goals made per game (33.5), first in field goal percentage, and sixth in three-point percentage.

On the defensive end, the Raiders have been just as dominant—holding opponents to 40.8 points per game (3^rd nationally) on 29.6% shooting and just 12.5% from beyond the arc, good for fifth-best in the country.

New Kids on the Block

This year's Raider roster brings a fresh look, with only four returners from last season's squad. Despite the turnover, the newcomers have wasted no time making their presence felt.

Pensacola native Niylia Wilkins, a transfer from Trinity Valley (TX), has led the charge offensively, averaging 16.0 points per game to pace the Raiders' attack. Freshmen Khoudia Diagne and Jadah White have also made immediate impacts, each contributing 12.3 points per game. Diagne has emerged as a versatile force on both ends of the floor, leading the team in rebounds (9.3) and steals (2.3) per game, while ranking second in field goal percentage (71.4) and assists (4.3).

Aurora Toyomasu has been lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 62.5% of her three-point attempts, the 11th-best mark in the nation. She's averaging 9.8 points, along with 2.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Rounding out the Raiders' balanced attack, Nafi Harz has continued to impress, averaging 9.8 points per game on 60.9% shooting, including 53.8% from three-point range. She's also contributing 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest, showcasing the depth and efficiency of Northwest Florida's revamped lineup.

Seasoned Vet

One of the Raiders' big returners from last season, Ka'Zahria Johnson has been a force in the post for the Raiders. Through four games, she's posting 9.8 points on a team-leading 73.7% shooting and is second to only Diagne in rebounds with 7.5 per game.

Sharing the Wealth

This year's Raiders squad has showcased exceptional balance early in the season. Through the first four games, a different player has led the team in scoring each time. In the opener against Volunteer State, Niylia Wilkins paced the Raiders with 23 points. Aurora Toyomasu took the lead in game two versus Lawson State, scoring 17 points. In game three against Miami Dade, Jadah White posted 19 points to top the stat sheet, and in Monday's matchup with Southwest Mississippi, Nafi Harz led the way with 15 points.  

Triple Double-Double

The Raiders have recorded a double-double in each of their last three contests. Niylia Wilkins opened the stretch with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Lawson State on Nov. 7. The following night, Khoudia Diagne posted 13 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Miami Dade. Most recently, Ka'Zahria Johnson continued the trend with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Southwest Mississippi on Nov. 10.