NICEVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Northwest Florida State women’s basketball flexed its muscle early and often as the Raiders routed Meridian, 83-34, in Raider Arena on Friday.

NWF (3-0) leapt out to a 25-2 advantage in the first quarter courtesy of a suffocating defensive effort that held Meridian without a field goal through the first 11 minutes of the game.

Five Raiders scored in double figures led by Ines Piper and Shelbee Brown with 13 points each. Brown finished the game with seven rebounds and nine steals.

Last-Tear Poa and Zyniah Thomas scored 12 points apiece, while Asjah Inniss added 11 points on a 5-for-10 effort from the field.

Northwest Florida forced 35 turnovers and shot 44.3 percent (35-79) as a team while holding Meridian to just 25 percent (13-52).