JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- For the second time this season, the Jacksonville Dolphins did battle with the Lipscomb Bisons. For the second time this season, the Dolphins came away with a victory, winning the second match-up of the season 72-54 Thursday night.

"Anytime you play a team that shoot threes, it's a challenge and have to guard the three point line, and I thought we did that," head coach Special Jennings said. "They made a couple, and I thought they made a couple tough ones, but we made it as hard as we could, and we came away with the victory."

Jacksonville (13-7, 5-4 ASUN) was led in scoring by graduate student Priscilla Williams' 20 points. She's recorded at least 20 points in five games this season. In her usual stat-stuffing way, Williams added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. 

The first half was all offense for the Dolphins. Jacksonville rained in a pair of early 3-pointers from senior Makiya Miller and graduate student Priscilla Williams to get things rolling for the Dolphins.

From there, freshman Aniah Smith got it going in transition with a pair of quick layups. There were 33 total points scored in the first quarter, but Jacksonville started strong with a 19-14 lead through the first quarter.

The Bisons cut the deficit to one, but a 14-3 run from the Dolphins blew the game open. Jacksonville took its decisive lead by leaning on its strengths: getting to the paint and getting to the free throw line. The Dolphins hit five free throws on their second quarter run.

The offense slowed down as halftime neared, but Jacksonville still took a nine-point lead into the halftime break.

Neither offense could find a rhythm out of the break, but the Dolphins struck first thanks to Smith and Williams. Jacksonville's 15 points were its fewest in any of the four quarters, but the Dolphins still outscored Lipscomb and took an 11-point lead into the final quarter of play.

Williams started the final quarter with a bang, drilling a straightaway triple from the top of the key. 

Game Notes

• Jacksonville defeated Lipscomb twice in the same season for the first time since 2020.
• The Dolphins have scored at least 70 points in 60% of games this season.
• Smith has scored 15-plus points and grabbed at least eight rebounds in back-to-back games. She also set career highs in steals (six) and assists (4).
• Four Dolphins (Williams, Smith, Miller and freshman Tatum Brown) scored in double-figures. In ASUN play, Jacksonville has had three or more players score in double figures seven times.

Coach's Comments
On Defensive Intensity, Steals
"It's how we want to play. We practice that way. We're gritty, we're tough. We want to pressure the ball, turn you several times and then fly around. And we did that today, again. I think that the defense is what made it kind of tough on them, getting those shots off. In the last game we played them, we were up a good bit, and then they made shots at the end to kind of come back, and so we didn't want to repeat that."

On Approach The Rest of Conference Play
"We need to be playing our best basketball in February. I'm excited that my team is continuing to figure it out … We just keep finding a way to figure it out. And so I'm proud of our team and their efforts."

Up Next
The Dolphins will stay in Tennessee for a rematch with the Austin Peay Governors. Tip-off is slated for Saturday at 3 PM ET.