TAMPA, Fla. – Jacksonville University's women's basketball team (2-2) battled to the final horn in an intense road matchup at South Florida (2-0), before dropping a 64-52 decision at the USF Sun Dome Monday evening.

Sherranda Reddick finished with a team-high 18 points, and Kayla Gordon added nine.

"We've been challenging the team to get back to our identity, and I'm not one for moral victories, but that was our best defensive effort all season," said Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "We are going to be a defensive team, and if we continue to defend at a high level, there will be positive results."

The Bulls were in the midst of a 7-0 run to start the contest before Kimberly Dawkins powered her way to the rim for a lay-in. The basket led to a Jacksonville rally and the visitor's 8-7 advantage (6:25).

Defensive efforts held both sides scoreless for the next two minutes, but USF closed the first quarter up, 16-9.

In search of a shot from the floor, the Dolphins used free throws to keep things close in the second frame. Khadijah Brown subbed into the contest with 5:23 on the clock, and recorded two points and a pair of rebounds in 35 seconds. Her final board led to a trip to the line where she knocked down both, closing the JU deficit to 24-18. The Bulls capped the quarter shooting 7-for-12 from the field while Jacksonville went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe.

In the final minute before the half, Jillah Moede flexed range for her first career three-pointer as the Dolphins entered the locker room trailing, 32-24.

Cementing her fourth consecutive game in double-figures, Reddick swished a trey a minute into the third to make it a five-point game, 32-27. It was the closest margin since the opening quarter, and the last of the night.  

Following the make, South Florida used a 9-2 run to push their advantage back to double-digits, and hovered around the mark for the remainder of the game.

The Dolphins welcome North Florida, Nicholls State, and South Alabama to Historic Swisher Gymnasium this weekend for the JU Thanksgiving Classic. The two-day tournament will see Jacksonville play Nicholls State Friday and USA Saturday. Both contests are slated for 2 p.m.