FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Fort Wayne Mastodons used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and never looked back, cruising to an 85-60 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gates Sports Center.

Fort Wayne exploded for 28 points in the opening period, capitalizing on a flurry of early Southern Illinois turnovers to build a double-digit lead it would not relinquish. The Mastodons’ offensive efficiency was on full display as they shot 50.8% from the field for the game, compared to just 36.1% for the visiting Salukis.

Jordan Reid led all scorers, powering the Fort Wayne offense with 23 points. The New Palestine, Indiana, native added five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in 28 minutes of action. She was complemented by Alana Nelson of Springport, Michigan, who poured in 22 points, including three shots from beyond the arc.

The Mastodons’ defense was equally impactful, forcing 18 Southern Illinois turnovers and converting them into 19 points. Fort Wayne also controlled the interior, outscoring the Salukis 46-26 in the paint.

Southern Illinois, which fell to 1-1 on the young season, was led by Alayna Kraus, who finished with 20 points and five rebounds. Tkiyah Nelson of St. Louis contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, but the Salukis struggled to find consistent offense against a swarming Fort Wayne defense.

After the opening-quarter blitz put Fort Wayne ahead 28-12, the Mastodons maintained their composure. They took a 46-30 lead into halftime and put the game out of reach with a 26-point third quarter, extending their advantage to 72-45.

Lili Krasovec provided a strong all-around effort for Fort Wayne with nine points, five rebounds and four assists. The Mastodons also received significant contributions from Ella Riggs, who scored 12 points, and Avery Wagner, who blocked two shots and hit a late three-pointer.

For Southern Illinois, Jeniah Thompson came off the bench to provide nine points and six rebounds.

The win improves Fort Wayne’s record to 2-2, bouncing back from a narrow two-point loss to Xavier in its previous outing. Southern Illinois, which opened its season with a win over Lewis, will look to regroup on the road.

An announced crowd of 1,001 attended the game at the Gates Sports Center. Fort Wayne’s next contest is at home against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. Southern Illinois travels to face Missouri on Tuesday.