FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Jacksonville University women's basketball program overcame a 19-point deficit to pull within three in the closing seconds, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 68-64 decision at Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday evening.

The outing concludes the Dolphins (23-8, 11-3 ASUN) appearance in the ASUN Conference Tournament in the semifinal round. Seniors Sherranda Reddick and Christin Mercer finished the game with 20 and 18 points, respectively.

"The game owes nobody nothing. Life owes nobody nothing. That's what I told the girls," said Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "What you put in is what you get out, and as young women, we know we didn't make enough deposits to collect the withdraw we wanted.

"The good news is with postseason hopes, there's a possibility. I don't think the season is over. I hurt for the girls, but this doesn't define us."

Each side recorded five field goals by the first media timeout (3:18), and the Dolphins held a 14-10 edge. The visitors led the entire quarter, despite a three-minute scoring drought at its close, and trailed by one, 15-14, at the 7:04 mark of the second as the lull continued.

Neither side generated much offense in the early goings of the frame, but things quickly picked up just before the half as six three-pointers allowed the Eagles to pull ahead, 32-23.

En route to outscoring JU, 24-9, in the quarter, they shot 57.1 percent from the floor to enter the locker room up, 36-23.  

Momentum shifted in the third quarter with the Dolphins outscoring the Eagles, and Jasmyn Brown pulled Jacksonville within single-digits with a midrange jumper at the start of the fourth. The rally turned into a 10-2 run, crowned by a Mercer layup, and the deficit was slimmed to three, 51-48, with 6:15 remaining.

Continuing to hang tough, Reddick twice made it a three-point game at the free-throw line with 2:14 and 12 seconds remaining.

The Dolphins fouled Jordin Alexander with eight seconds to go, and she split a pair at the line.

Jacksonville's final shot at the buzzer traveled wide.

Reddick posted a team-high eight rebounds while Kayla Gordon added 13 points and four rebounds.