LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins leave their Kentucky road trip with a commanding victory, rolling past the Bellarmine Knights 73-49 Saturday afternoon. JU has won three of the last four match-ups in Louisville in this series. 

The Dolphins played to their team-first identity, as eight players saw the score sheet. 

Jacksonville was led by its dynamic duo of freshmen guards Aniah Smith and Tatum Brown. Smith scored a career-high 15 points with a career-best eight rebounds, while Brown added 15 points of her own.

"This kid can play, it's just a matter of getting her legs back under her and getting acclimated to the speed of the game," head coach Special Jennings said about Smith. "She's everything I said she'd be, and she's continuing to get better each game."

The opening quarter was tight before the Dolphins finally found its groove towards the end of the period. It started with sophomore Mariah Knight, putting on for her hometown fans. Knight hit a turn-around bucket in the post, then she hit an open jumper.

She hit an open layup before Smith scored back-to-back buckets, closing the quarter on a 12-4 run and taking a seven-point lead into the second quarter.

The run continued in the second as four Dolphins scored before Bellarmine saw the scoreboard, pushing Jacksonville's lead to 15 early in the quarter. The balanced offensive attack continued with senior Makiya Miller who splashed home a triple and got to the rack for two points.

The Knights fought back early in the second half, scoring four times in a row to cut the deficit to six. That woke the Dolphins up, as they would rip off a 14-0 run to blow the game away the rest of the afternoon.

Smith and Brown drove the ship, scoring 12 of the 14 points in that run. 

The sophomore class showed out in the final quarter, with Knight and Comari Mitchell getting involved on the box score. Knight capped off her best game of the season with a 3-pointer, giving her a season-high 13 points on the night.

Game Notes

• The Dolphins have held an opponent under 50 points three times this season and twice in ASUN play.
• Jacksonville's bench outscored the Knights' reserves 43-3.
• Brown has scored in double figures four-straight games.
• Graduate student guard Priscilla Williams recorded a season-best six assists.

Head Coach Special Jennings
On Team Performance
"Total team victory. We shared the ball, got out and ran. They played zone a majority of the time, which took away one of our strengths --- transition --- but I'm proud of the way we still shared the ball and put the ball in the basket."

On Tatum Brown's Consistency
"That's the name of the game. Talent is great, but if you can't perform and produce every game, that stuff doesn't even matter. We talked about it and harped on it, making sure we're not just being good for a game, but coming out and being good for all games."

Up Next
The road trip continues for Jacksonville next week, as the Dolphins make their annual Tennessee trip of the ASUN season. JU will face Lipscomb for the second time this season at 6 PM. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.