JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A furious second-half rally sent things down to the final horn as the Jacksonvlile University women's basketball team fell to Bethune-Cookman, 53-52, Wednesday evening at Historic Swisher Gymnasium.

"I'm disappointed but the bottom line is we have to do the things that win ball games," commented head coach Darnell Haney following the game. "Not allowing second shots, defending without fouling, and finishing plays on both ends are ways you take control of games. We must seize those opportunities, and we did not tonight."

The Dolphins (4-5) outpaced the Wildcats 23-11 in the third quarter to hold a one-point lead, 46-45, heading into the final 10 minutes.

Bethune-Cookman (5-1) moved ahead for the final time in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, as a 5-0 Wildcat run gave the visitors a 48-46 advantage with 3:24 to play. In spite of the Dolphins' tenacity – including tying the game at 48 with 1:36 to go and a last-second three-pointer from sophomore Johné Stewart that closed the gap to one at the final buzzer – the visitors converted on 5-of-6 chances at the free-throw line in the final 1:19 to hold on, 53-52. Stewart finished the day with seven points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Bethune-Cookman opened the game on a 5-0 run, before baskets from junior Jada Perry (6:25) and sophomore Destiny Marshall (5:23) got the Dolphins on the board. Back-to-back layups from redshirt-senior Shalonda Neely (3:28; 0:56) brought Jacksonville within two at the first break as the Wildcats led, 9-7.

Nevitt (7:34) and B-CU's Ciara Thompson (7:03) traded three-pointers early in the second quarter, as the Dolphins used a 7-3 run to pull within one, 15-14, with 4:38 on the clock. With time winding down, it was the Wildcats' Tatum Hayes (3:13) and JU senior Mariah Batz (3:04) who traded threes. A late foul call put B-CU's Daniella Hatcher on the line with 0.6 seconds before halftime to put the Wildcats ahead at the break, 29-21.

Neely led the Dolphins with 10 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block, while Nevitt added nine points, four rebounds, and three assists. Recording four of her six steals in the first quarter alone, Perry finished the day with six points, nine rebounds, six steals, and five blocks to earn Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.  
 
 
Sparked by an 11-0 run, the Dolphins outpaced the Wildcats 23-11 in the third quarter to take the lead. With all five of her points during that run, senior Alexis Burns pushed hot-handed Dolphins ahead, 37-33, with 3:39 showing. Stewart converted a jumped with two seconds left to preserve JU's lead heading into the final period, 44-40.

Bethune-Cookman was led by Scott's double-double effort of 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Thompson added eight points and seven boards.

The Dolphins welcome FIU to Historic Swisher Gymnasium on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.