JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A strong first half was overshadowed by a turn of momentum that forced overtime as the Jacksonville University women's basketball team battled Norfolk State in the finale of the JU Thanksgiving Classic, presented by Courtyard Marriott – Butler Boulevard. Redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevit made a layup with 31 seconds remaining and the Dolphins' defense closed down the Spartans in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, but the visitors slipped ahead in the extra period for a 71-64 decision.
 
With over 20 points in each of the first two quarters, Jacksonville (4-4) led by as many as 24 with 2:58 in the second en route to a 47-29 lead at the break. Sparked by a 13-point performance in the first 20 from redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevitt and seven points from senior Kiara Meeks, the Dolphins looked poised to close the door on the Spartans. Nevitt finished the day with a team-high 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks to earn Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.
 

"Second chance points, turnovers, and production from everybody needed to match [the first half]. We came out in the third quarter and did not have a good first five minutes," noted head coach Darnell Haney. "It was imperative that we came out the first five minutes in control of the game, and we did not, and it hurt us. They went on a run and we never got back in a rhythm."
 
Starting with a 5-0 run by Norfolk State (4-3) to open the third, the Dolphins struggled to find their rhythm and managed just nine points, including four of sophomore Destiny Marshall's 15 points. A second 7-0 run by the Spartans from 3:33 to 2:48 closed the gap to six, as JU held a 56-49 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
 
Perhaps the most notable momentum shift came in the form of a nine-point rally by the visitors to tie the game at 58 with 7:09 on the clock. Jacksonville took the lead on free throws from Marshall at 5:57 and 3:18, before a layup from Nevitt with 31 seconds on the clock tied the game at 63 to force overtime. From there, Norfolk State used an 8-1 run to take the game, 71-64.
 
"We have to take this and grow and understand," Haney added. "We have to take this and grow and understand. We have to have more production on both our offensive and defensive ends. We're a defensive team and we have an opportunity to value the basketball. It starts on the defensive end for us and when we didn't defend, it hurt us."
 
Marshall finished the day with 15 points and four rebounds, while Meeks added seven points and four rebounds. Junior Jada Perry controlled the glass with eight boards in the effort.
 
Norfolk State was led by Chanette Hicks, who posted 30 points, 10 steals, and six rebounds, while Mikaela Jones contributed 11 points and eight rebounds for the visitors.
 
The Dolphins return to action on Wednesday, December 4 when they welcome Bethune-Cookman to Historic Swisher Gymnasium at 7 p.m.