JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Dolphins dribbled out the clock and the claps started to ring out in Swisher Gymnasium. On a Saturday filled with physical play and clutch moments abound, Jacksonville made history.

The Jacksonville Dolphins (20-7, 12-4 ASUN) defeated the FGCU Eagles, 70-61. The win meant history in multiple ways, namely the Dolphins clinching their first 20-win season since 2017-18.

Jacksonville also secured its ninth-straight win, tying the second-longest streak in program history. By defeating the Eagles, the Dolphins secured their first ever season sweep over FGCU.

It looked like the Eagles would strike back early in the first quarter. Florida Gulf Coast took an early 10-5 lead in the first quarter, but the deficit woke up the Dolphins. Freshman Tatum Brown knocked down a triple to get a bucket back for JU.

Freshman Aniah Smith cut to the hoop for a layup, then senior Makiya Miller scored two more with under a minute to play in the quarter. Jacksonville's late flurry put the Dolphins in front, 13-12.

Jacksonville continued to push the envelope in the second quarter. After a quick FGCU bucket, Brown answered with another long ball. Sophomore Mariah Knight got involved, knocking down a triple of her own.

Brown and Smith both scored to cap off a 10-0 JU run to blow the lead up to nine points. For the second quarter, Jacksonville outscored the Eagles 20-11, pushing a narrow one-point lead at the end of the first quarter to a double-digit advantage at the break.

The third quarter was a game of back and forth, with the Dolphins going further ahead and FGCU battling back to keep the game within reach. Early on, Jacksonville led by as many as 15, with junior Carmaya Bowman getting a pair of quick buckets and Miller drilling a triple.

A pull-up jumper from Brown put JU up 50-38 with under a minute to play in the period, but three FGCU free throws put the lead down to nine after the third.

That gave the Eagles the momentum heading into the fourth quarter. An 8-2 run to open the fourth pulled the game within one possession for the first time since the 9:30 mark in the second quarter. 

Miller would end the run, though, and put the Dolphins on firm footing. She got one back from the free-throw line then hit a 3-pointer. Miller and graduate student guard Priscilla Williams both scored a pair of free throws to put the Dolphins on firm footing. 

Florida Gulf Coast fought till the end, but Jacksonville was clinical enough with its foul shooting and Brown found sophomore Mychal White for an icing layup with 40 seconds left to give the win to Jacksonville. 

Game Notes
Head Coach Special Jennings

On JU's historic season: "I took this job at Jacksonville University to bring this program back to prominence and to compete for championships or at least give ourselves a chance to do that. I'm thankful to be here. And these young ladies, every young lady on this roster wants to be here. They're here for that particular reason, to compete for titles. When everyone is rowing in the same direction, it makes things a little bit easier. I'm just thankful to my players. You don't get 20 wins without the players. This is about them, it's been about them. They're realizing that and we're peaking at the right time."

On intensity of the game: "Coach Raina, that's my girl. I love her through and through. If it's not me, it's her, I'm always going to root for her. These are the games you want to play in. These are the games you see if you can compete for championships. Because if so, these are the teams that we're going to have to beat. So I'm proud of my ladies and their effort. Team victory, they played hard. We weren't perfect, but we were really good."

On Tatum Brown: "Winners make winning plays. She's phenomenal. She comes from a great program, won a state championship with Grayson High School. That kid is a winner. I'm happy she's on my side, and I'm happy she's just a freshman. We get to watch her develop and she's great. She's going to be amazing."

Up Next

The Dolphins will travel to DeLand for a rematch with the Stetson Hatters in the penultimate game of the regular season. Tip-off is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 PM.