LYNCHBURG, Va. – Closing out a five-game road swing that started in mid-December, the Jacksonville University women's basketball team worked to overcome a second quarter deficit, but ultimately fell to ASUN Conference foe Liberty, 85-76, Saturday afternoon at Vines Center.

The Dolphins brought down 31 rebounds compared to the Flames' 48 – a difference noted by head coach Darnell Haney following the game. "We got killed on the glass. When we don't rebound, we can't win games. The second quarter we had a drop off offensively, but our defense has to travel. We didn't defend at a high level because we didn't finish with a rebound."

Both teams pushed the pace of the game early on, as the Dolphins (8-7, 0-2 ASUN) held a 21-20 lead after the opening quarter. The second quarter, however, belonged to the Flames (9-7, 2-1 ASUN) as Liberty used a 22-8 quarter to surge ahead. Ending the half with momentum, senior Alexis Burns lofted a pass over a defender to redshirt-senior Shalonda Neely for the layup at the buzzer, as the hosts held a 42-29 advantage at the break.

A 10-0 run in the third propelled the hosts, but the Dolphins answered back with a nine-point run of their own to keep the game within reach. A second 9-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back three pointers from sophomore Destiny Marshall (1:51) and senior Kiara Meeks (1:25), brought JU within seven going into the final quarter, 62-55.

A three-pointer from freshman Da'Nasia Shaw with 8:43 on the clock in the fourth cut the Dolphins' deficit to five, 64-59, but foul trouble hampered JU's efforts. With four players receiving three or more fouls before the start of the quarter, Jacksonville worked to curb a seven-point Flames run. The difference proved at the free throw line, as Liberty finished 10-of-14 in the fourth quarter, including 6-for-6 down the final 2:24 to put the game away, 85-76.

"When we stick to who we are and defend at a high level, good things happen," Haney added. "They got 20 second chance points. That sums it up right there; we can't have that. We missed some assignments this game and the biggest one was rebounds."

Marshall finished the day one point shy of matching her career high with 24 points, while redshirt-senior Shalonda Neely posted 13 points. Freshman Da'Nasia Shaw knocked down a trio of three-pointers and picked up four rebounds. With seven points, a team-high eight rebounds, and five blocks, junior Jada Perry earned Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.
 

Keyen Green led the effort for the Flames behind 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Ashtyn Baker added 21 points.

"Returning to Swisher will have a huge impact. We get our people and our fans in there and get to play in the gym we practice in. We have to continue to defend, continue to run, and rebound the basketball," stated Haney.

The Dolphins return to home for their next matchup, as NJIT visits Historic Swisher Gymnasium on Monday, Jan. 13. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.