NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A big first quarter coupled with 38 points off the bench highlighted the Jacksonville University women's basketball team's second-straight win, a 73-64 victory at Lipscomb, Monday evening at Allen Arena.

"We set the tone when we came out in the first quarter," noted head coach Darnell Haney following the team's victory. "We were able to run; we had a couple mishaps and some turnovers that we usually don't have, and we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball at that time. We were antsy and trying to go too fast a little bit and it caused some turnovers but as far as defensively in that first quarter, we were prepared to get stops and that was important for us.

"For most of the game we defended at a high level. We came with energy and enthusiasm about getting stops on the defensive end until the last couple minutes when we gave up a few offensive rebounds that we shouldn't have given up and we gave up some easy shots that we shouldn't have given up. Most importantly, I'm excited to be able to get the W. Road Ws are tough to come by and I'm proud of that."

Jacksonville (12-8, 4-3 ASUN) pushed the pace early in the first quarter and pressed the Bisons to give up a 7-0 run behind a three-pointer from senior Alexis Burns (8:39) and a pair of baskets from sophomore Destiny Marshall (8:16, 7:53). While the Bisons (5-16, 2-6 ASUN) returned with a five-point run of their own, Jacksonville added a 9-0 streak down the stretch to hold a 22-12 advantage.

Back-to-back jumpers from junior Jada Perry (6:32, 6:10) sparked a 6-0 run in the second, while redshirt-freshman Erin Wilson capitalized on a pair of free throw (5:36) to help extend JU's lead to double digits, 30-17. As time expired in the half, redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevitt buried a shot just inside half court; however, after an official review, the basket was waved off and the Dolphins held a 36-25 lead at the break.

The hosts saw a surge in the third quarter, as a pair of three-pointers from Lipscomb's Jalyn Holcomb (9:47, 5:56) gifted the Bisons an 8-2 run to come within seven, 40-33. Wilson (3:01) and Meeks (1:46) found range beyond the arc to help the Dolphins keep Lipscomb at bay, 55-44.

The ASUN's top three-point shooter at 61.4 percent, freshman Da'Nasia Shaw added to her repertoire a pair of triples (9:27, 4:28) to ignite the fourth quarter. Shaw's second three-pointer was the catalyst in JU's 6-0 run for JU's largest lead of the game, 69-50, with 3:21 remaining. From there, the Bisons worked a 7-0 rally – including five points from Jalyn Holcomb – but it was too little, too late as JU kept a 73-64 advantage at the final horn.

Marshall led the Dolphins with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Perry followed up her double-double performance two days ago with 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Meeks (16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) and Shaw (13 points, 4 rebounds) combined for 29 of JU's 38 bench points. For her efforts, Perry was named Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.
 

"Commend [Jada] Perry on the glass today – she really was huge. She worked and we were able to get her some touches inside and she was able to finish," added Haney. "With [sophomore guard Johné Stewart] out right now, we have 14 players that can play basketball and we're going to use each and every one of them to the best of our ability to make sure that they are impacts on our team. Everybody has to come with it and it may be someone different every night, but we have to make sure that we're doing everything right – the JU way and together. That's going to be the biggest piece and I expect our bench to come off and get some big minutes. Again, we want to make sure we rest, get healthy, and get ready to go for Saturday."

For Lipscomb, Holcomb paced the Bisons with 18 points, while Taylor Clark (15 points, 5 rebounds) and Carleigh Short (12 points) added double-digit performances.

The Dolphins return to Historic Swisher Gymnasium this weekend when they play host to North Alabama (Feb. 1) and Florida Gulf Coast (Feb. 3).