JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After starting the season with two games on the road, the Jacksonville University women's basketball team returned to Swisher Gymnasium Saturday to open the home portion of their schedule against Florida International. An inspired, gritty second half effort by the short-handed Dolphins (0-3) came up just short as the Panthers (1-1) eked out 64-59 win.
 
"This game was a testament to the character of the young women we have in this program and I couldn't be prouder of the effort they showed for 40 minutes today," said head coach Darnell Haney. "They all stepped up and gritted out a performance that we can build on moving ahead. They were relentless and knew going in that we were going to be short-handed to start and possibly even more so as the game went on. This game was the embodiment of Jacksonville basketball and I couldn't be prouder of this group of young women. We had chances to win today, we had some mental lapses but we were able to overcome those and stay close with FIU from start to end. I'm really proud of our group. We had some big performances from Alexis Pierce, Jada Perry and DeShari Graham, Khalela Hayes had her coming out party and I thought we did a phenomenal job with our effort today."
 
After FIU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, Alexis Pierce got the Dolphins on the board with what would be the first of four buckets from long range for the day to make it a 4-3 game. Pierce would drain another three about two minutes later to keep JU at arm's length before Shekinah Rachel's three from the top of the key made it 12-9. Jada Perry would beat the buzzer with a layup on a pass from DeShari Graham to make it a one-point game at 14-13 when the quarter ended.
 
In the second period the Dolphins struggled from the field, shooting just 4-20 in the period. The Panthers ran their lead out to as much as 16 just before the end of the half before Perry once again beat the buzzer, draining a trey in the corner to make it 36-23 going into the intermission.
 
Jacksonville came out firing in the third quarter, scoring on their first three possessions to make it an 11-point game at 42-31. The Dolphins went on an 8-0 run starting at the 5:20 mark on a layup by Tamia Stallings and capped it with another three from Graham to make it a six-point game. Graham would hit another trey with less than a minute left to make it 51-44 heading to the fourth.
 
Thought not many fans were in attendance today, the intensity level during fourth quarter was through the rough as the Dolphins continued to battle with just five players, as they did for much of the contest. Seniors Alexis Pierce and Jada Perry led the charge along with DeShari Graham and Khalela Hayes, who got the 'Phins within two at 59-57. near the three-minute mark. However, fatigue and foul trouble finally caught up with JU when Perry collected her fifth personal foul with just under 90 seconds remaining, forcing the Green and Gold to finish the game with just four players on the court. A layup by Pierce with 30 seconds left made it a four-point game but the Panthers played keep away and dribbled out the clock to finish the game.
 
Pierce led the Dolphins with 18 points and had three assists, three steals and two boards as she played all 40 minutes. Graham posted a career-high 15 points to go with eight rebounds while dishing out five assists as she also played whistle to whistle. Perry, who dealt with leg cramps for most of the final period posted a 12-point effort and pulled down six rebounds. Freshman Khalela Hayes came off the bench to provide quality minutes in the best game of her young career, scoring a season-best nine while also securing eight boards and collecting four steals. All six players who dressed for Jacksonville scored in the contest.
 
The Dolphins will have a week off before welcoming Webber International to Swisher Gymnasium December 11 for a 5 P.M. tipoff.