BOULDER, Colo. – In their first-ever meeting in program history, the Jacksonville University women's basketball team battled the 5,000-foot change in altitude to put up a solid effort against Colorado, though a strong second half lifted the Buffaloes to a 66-44 decision, Sunday evening at CU Events Center.

"The first half, we did a good job of attacking them offensively and defending. We had some unforced turnovers throughout the game that we didn't need to have. Defensively, we had some lapses where we weren't in position and some fouls that we shouldn't have had," noted head coach Darnell Haney following the game.

"Colorado is a big team and we had to keep them off the glass. We did a solid job battling for the most part. It was the loose balls we didn't get in the second half and the production from our bench, which is going to be one of our strong points. We need people to step up. The early foul trouble made us play some people for longer stretches, so that was a key piece."

Jacksonville (3-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening minutes with baskets from senior Alexis Burns (9:45 and 8:16) and sophomore Destiny Marshall (8:59) to force the Buffaloes into a timeout just 1:48 into the game. Colorado worked back to tie things at 10 with 3:37 on the clock before the Buffaloes (5-0) extended their lead to 17-12 at the end of the quarter.

Opening the second quarter with a pair of free throws from Marshall and back-to-back layups from Burns, the Dolphins cut their deficit to two, 18-16. However, a 9-3 run to extended Colorado's lead to as many as nine, 27-19. The next five points came off the hand of junior Jada Perry to help pull the Dolphins within three, 27-24, with 2:47 before halftime. Four made free throws from Colorado's Jaylyn Sherrod and a three-pointer from Quinessa Caylao-Do down the stretch kept the Buffaloes just out of reach, but a jumper from redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevitt and a free throw from Marshall with three seconds remaining brought the Dolphins into the break down seven, 34-27.

Jacksonville struggled to find their rhythm in the third quarter, as Colorado used a 10-3 run to extend its lead to 44-30. The Dolphins hit a trio of free throws down the stretch, but the Buffaloes held a 52-35 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Held scoreless through the first 4:56 of the final quarter, Nevitt ended the Dolphins' scoring drought with a slick three-pointer to open a 5-0 run. With free throws from Perry (4:23) and a layup from redshirt-freshman Erin Wilson (3:01), the Dolphins extended their run to 7-2 with 2:01 remaining but it came too late as Colorado held a 66-44 lead at the final horn.

Added Haney, "There were some individual solid performances, but we have to do things more as a team. Be able to move the ball, know what we're doing offensively, know how we can get people who are hot the basketball and be able to make plays when you're out there.

"We use this to grow from, we fix the things we have problems with, and we move forward. All in all, we have to be better with standing runs and having poise when it isn't going our way. We will be, we just have to continue to push the pavement and get better as a team. We have to understand that this is a process, and we have to be more consistent in order to beat Power 5 teams and it's coming; we just have to be more in harmony."

Burns and Nevitt paced the Dolphins with 14 and 12 points, respectively, while Perry and Marshall each recorded seven. Perry also led the team with nine rebounds and four blocks. For her efforts, Burns earned Hodges Mazda Player of the Game. 
 
Colorado was led by Charlotte Whittaker's 15 points, while Aubrey Knight and Annika Jank picked up eight rebounds apiece.

Jacksonville returns home to Historic Swisher Gymnasium next weekend when they welcome Nicholls (Nov. 29) and Norfolk State (Nov. 30) for the JU Thanksgiving Classic. Both games are slated for tip-off at 2 p.m.