JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After trailing early in the first quarter, the Jacksonville University women's basketball team found its spark and sat Nicholls State down, 72-55, in the JU Thanksgiving Classic opener, Friday afternoon at Historic Swisher Gymnasium.
 
Four players scored in double figures for the Dolphins, including a game-high 15 points from redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevitt. Both junior Alexis Pierce (11 points, 8 rebounds) and redshirt-senior Shalonda Neely (10 points, 7 rebounds) neared double-double territory, while senior Kiara Meeks chipped in 10 points and three assists.
 
Redshirt-freshman Erin Wilson notched four points and came up big with seven rebounds to earn Hodges Mazda Player of the Game honors.
 
 
"We had to go to some of my young kids and I think Erin Wilson had a heck of a game," noted head coach Darnell Haney following the game. "I told [the team] it'd be imperative to rebound and they did that for the most part. When we concentrate on the defensive end of the floor and execute defensively, everything else comes. We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and executing under pressure. I'm proud of the way a lot of these kids stepped up. … Tomorrow, we have to make sure we're solid on both ends to make sure we come out with a victory."
 
The Dolphins (4-3) found themselves down 8-0 in the first quarter, but quickly answered with an 8-0 run of their own as a three-pointer from Nevitt (6:01) focused Jacksonville's offense. A jumper from Wilson (1:26) followed by back-to-back free throws from Nevitt (0:16) brought the Dolphins within one as the Colonels (2-4) held a 15-14 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
A 6-0 rally to open the second lifted the Dolphins to a 20-15 advantage with 8:05 on the clock. Jacksonville's signature defense shut down Nicholls and allowed just eight points in the quarter before the Dolphins closed the half with a 5-0 run for its largest lead of the half, 34-23.
 
Jacksonville extended its lead to 16, 41-25, with 6:16 on the clock in the third, but the Colonels found a 10-3 rally to end the quarter within six, 50-44.
 
Highlighted by a 6-0 run with baskets from Neely (5:48), senior Kiara Meeks (5:27), and sophomore Johne Stewart (5:01), JU quickly put the brakes on NSU's pressure in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins regained their double-digit lead and held a 19-point advantage with 1:41 to go before the final horn confirmed JU's 72-55 win.
 
Meeks finished the game with 10 points, while Stewart added three steals for the Dolphins.
 
Ari Hamilton and Adrian Mann posted 14 points each for the Colonels, while Loan-Anh Johnson brought down a team-high six rebounds in the effort.
 
Jacksonville closes out the JU Thanksgiving Classic tomorrow, Nov. 30 when they face Norfolk State at 2 p.m.