HUNTINGTON, WV. --- The Jacksonville women's basketball team fell 78-76 on the road against the Marshall Thundering Herd Friday afternoon. 

The Dolphins (6-4) were led by senior guard Edyn Battle, who scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists --- all team highs. Despite the defeat, Jacksonville had its third-highest scoring performance of the season.

The opening minutes were slow, but after an early timeout, both offenses delivered in the matinee matchup. Jacksonville took control in the first quarter with a 10-0 run, led by sophomore guard Sana'a Garrett. The Dolphins took a 21-17 lead into the second period.

The game of runs continued into the second. Marshall ripped off a 15-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, but Jacksonville responded at the end of the quarter to keep the game in striking distance.

Neither team pulled decisively ahead in the third. Graduate student forward Makayla Edwards scored a pair of early baskets to put Jacksonville in front, and the two teams entered the final period knotted up at 52.

The Herd pulled ahead with an explosive start to the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins wouldn't stay down. Battle pushed ahead with a tough and-one, then scored a pair of technical free throws to make it a three-point game with under four minutes to play.

Every time Marshall tried to make the decisive blow, the Dolphins had an answer. With 36 seconds to play, Jacksonville had the ball under the basket trailing by two. The Dolphins couldn't convert that opportunity, but scrappy defense kept them in the game in the final seconds.

After a missed Marshall free throw, Jacksonville had the ball with under ten seconds left. However, the Dolphins couldn't get off a final shot to tie the game or take the lead.

Game Notes

• Battle has scored 22-plus points in each of her last three games. She's scored 20-plus points six times this season.
• Battle also set a season high in rebounds (eight) and tied a career high in assists (five).
• Garrett set a season high with 15 points, one shy of tying her career high.
• Sophomore forward Saniyah Craig finished with 15 points, her second game with 15-plus points this season. 
• The Dolphins out-rebounded the Herd 38-31 and outscored them 50-26 in the paint.

Head Coach Special Jennings
"We didn't do the things defensively that we were supposed to do, and Marshall was the better team today. We need to do a better job of guarding the ball and guarding the 3-point line. Our offense is doing what it needs to do --- we had multiple people in double figures again --- but we have to be better on defense."

Up Next
The Dolphins will close out non-conference play with a pair of power conference road trips. Jacksonville will travel to face the Florida State Seminoles at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.