JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was by no means easy, but Sunday the Jacksonville University women's basketball picked up their first ASUN Conference win of the season over Bellarmine University. A fourth-quarter surge propelled the Dolphins (3-10, 1-7) past the Knights (4-11, 4-6) by a score of 71-65.
 
"I'm proud of the effort from this group today, especially coming out after a tough loss like the one yesterday," said head coach Darnell Haney. "We got a monster effort from Erin (Wilson) and DeShari (Graham) today, those two really carried us and helped set the tone in this game. Shari did a fantastic job playing through foul trouble today, finishing the last four minutes with four fouls and having some key assists late in this one. We were able to finish this game the right way and not let it get away from us like yesterday."
 
"Makayla Edwards had a great day today, I think she's really coming into her own, she shot the ball well all weekend and was able to really help us break the zone on defense. I can't speak enough for Alexis Pierce and her leadership, she was huge helping get us set up in this game on defense and having her veteran presence out there today really kept us level no matter the situation. Tamia Stallings stepped in and had a big weekend, eight points and eight rebounds today, she's really taking on a larger role and embracing that. Shekinah Rachel did a great job on defense today and helped us disrupt them on offense to force turnovers. Overall, I'm extremely proud of this group and the all-around effort this weekend, we will use this and continue to get stronger moving ahead."
 
Bellarmine fired the first shots of the afternoon, completing a traditional three-point play to begin the game. After Alexis Pierce nailed a step-back jumper to get Jacksonville on the board, Erin Wilson would give the home team their first lead of the game minutes later. Neither side could gain a definitive edge early, exchanging baskets through a first quarter that came to an end with the score even at 15.
 
DeShari Graham and Wilson opened the second quarter for JU with back-to-back baskets to jump ahead by four before BU laid one up and in to draw back closer. A three-pointer from Graham pushed the Dolphins advantage back to five and kicked off a 10-0 run that saw MaKayla Edwards and Wilson get in on the action and increase the lead to 31-19. The Knights held serve, however, and were able to go on a run of their own leading into the locker room, closing to within four at 32-28 after scoring nine of the final 10 points in the second period.
 
Bellarmine was able to carry the momentum they had gained late in the first half into the opening moments of the third quarter, scoring the first six points coming of the break to take the lead 34-32. Things seemed to slow in the quarter as both sides dueled it out, with the Knights taking a pair of seven points leads in the final three minutes. A free throw by Pierce got the Dolphins back within three with 30 seconds left, but a Bellarmine layup with 17 seconds on the clock pushed the deficit back to five at 49-44
 
Trailing heading into the fourth quarter, the Dolphins were able to shrug off the third quarter and staged a furious comeback led by Wilson. After the two sides went back-and-forth scoring for several minutes, Wilson tied the game and gave Jacksonville back the lead at 54-53, getting fouled on a driving layup after going coast-to-coast after a missed jumper by Bellarmine. A Graham steal-and-score made it a three-point game but moments later, the junior collected her fourth foul of the game on a three-point attempt from the Knights. After converting all three from the stripe to even the score, each side swapped jumpers to keep pace with one another. The Dolphins retook the lead for good with just over three minutes remaining, as Wilson connected on a transition layup while drawing a foul. The redshirt sophomore connected on the free throw that followed to make it 61-58. Jacksonville kept up the pressure on Bellarmine, forcing the Knights to answer with each made basket that pushed the lead to eight with just under a minute to go. The Knights, hoping to steal a win once more, were denied however as their deficit was just too much to overcome with the Dolphins converting their free throws late to seal a 71-65 game.
 
Wilson finished the day with her first double-double of the season, scoring 25 points and pulling down a career-best 11 rebounds. Graham, who dealt with foul trouble for most of the afternoon, posted an 18-point effort and tied a career-high five assists. Stallings finished with eight points and eight boards, both of which were season-best marks. Seven different Dolphins scored today and as a team, JU forced 14 Bellarmine turnovers.
 
Jacksonville hits the road again next week to take on Lipscomb University (7-7, 4-4) in Nashville on Saturday February 13. Tip-off is set for 2 PM.