CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Jacksonville women's basketball team nearly upset ASUN #8 Austin Peay on the road Saturday at the Winfield Dunn Center, falling 69-75. 

After rallying from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter, Edyn Battle's 22 points in the second half helped the Dolphins narrow the gap to three points against the Governors late in the fourth with 3:40 remaining. JU strategically utilized their team and personal fouls to try to overcome the deficit. However, the Governors left no room for a Phin comeback, going 10-for-13 from the free-throw line in the final 10 minutes to maintain their lead. 

Edyn Battle nearly matched her season high, finishing with 29 points, four assists, and two rebounds. Battle now boasts 10 games with 20 or more points. Saniyah Craigs contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds, marking her fourth double-double. Jalisa Dunlap's six points late in the fourth also bolstered the Dolphin rally. 

The Dolphins got off to a slow start in the first quarter, putting up seven points to Austin Peay's 21. Freshman Saniyah Craig saw her way to the Dolphin scoreboard early, giving JU its first lead. Craig contributed over half of the JU scoring efforts in the period. Shortly after, Edyn Battle and Zaria Blake added to the tally. However, when the once-trailing Governors tied the game and seized a lead in the first quarter, they maintained it for the rest of the game. 

In the second quarter, Battle sparked the Dolphin offense with a three-pointer that helped them outscore the home team 17-16. JU proceeded to light up the Austin Peay defense recording four significant three-pointers in the quarter. By 7:41 in the second, Jalisa Dunlap continued the momentum by sinking a three-pointer of her own, making the score 13-23. By halftime, back-and-forth scoring left JU trailing by 13 points. 

During the third quarter, Austin Peay extended their lead to16 points. That lead was quickly erased by Battle's 11-point eruption and Isamery Telleria's quick five points to help JU trim the deficit to 10, 45-55, before the final period.

The fourth quarter remained tightly contested as the Dolphins chipped away at the Governors' lead. Craig, Battle, and Dunlap combined for 22 points in the period, and the Dolphins outscored Austin Peay 24-to-20, but it proved not enough for the Dolphins to steal a win on the road. 

UP NEXT 

Are you ready for River City Rumble? The Dolphins return to Jacksonville to play a two-game series with local rivals North Florida. The first game is set for Thursday, February 15 with a game time to be determined. Stay tuned on the Dolphin website for the latest updates.  

NOTEABLE NUMBERS 

• Jalisa Dunlap finished with nine points and three rebounds, Dunlap shot 100-percent from three (2-for-2) and from free-throw line (3-for-3) 

• Zaria Blake scored five points and three rebounds 

• JU bench contributed 40 points, most points in a game this season 

• Dolphins scored 21 second chance points, 15 off turnovers, and 12 on fast break