FLORENCE, Ala. – A competitive first half gave way in the third quarter for the Jacksonville University women's basketball team and despite a fourth-quarter surge, the Dolphins were unable to slide past ASUN Conference foe North Alabama in a 76-65 decision, Monday evening at Flowers Hall.

"The defense has to travel and lock in," noted Haney following the game. "We did a solid job on [North Alabama's] key players, but we let two players come off the bench that we knew were shooters. We didn't lock in defensively on some assignments; North Alabama is a good team and they made us pay for it. We have to do a better job of paying attention to the scout and locking in on what we need to do on both ends of the floor for us to be successful. It's a situation where we learn, continue get better, and continue to grow as a team."

Trailing by four at halftime, the Dolphins (8-6, 0-1 ASUN) outpaced the Lions 18-16 in the fourth. Despite their efforts, JU shot just 29.4 percent from the floor in the third as UNA (12-3, 2-0 ASUN) surged ahead behind 21 points to the Dolphins' 12.

Added Haney, "That's part of the process when we get into conference play. We have to continue to punch, continue to roll, continue to get better at the little things that win games. We lost track of a couple little things in the game and when you play against a good team, they make you better."

A back-and-forth affair ensued after tip-off as two of the top teams in the ASUN Conference battled, with the game slated as the Dolphins' league opener. Jacksonville jumped to a 5-0 start before the Lions countered and closed the period ahead four, 19-15.

Jacksonville regained its lead early in the second with five straight points from redshirt-senior Shakayla Nevitt to put the Dolphins ahead, 20-19. Responding with a 9-2 rally, the Lions seized the lead and held a four-point advantage at the break, 39-35.

With 14 points in the first half, sophomore Destiny Marshall posted a new career high with 25 points to lead the Dolphins. Senior Kiara Meeks added 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, while Nevitt finished the day with seven points and six rebounds. For her efforts, Marshall earned Hodges Mazda Player of the Game. 
 

The league's second-leading scorer, Ivy Wallen, was held to just 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the hosts, while Oliva Noah notched a team-high 26 points.

The Dolphins close out their five-game road swing with a meeting at Liberty on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m.