JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- With under 30 seconds to play, senior guard Makiya Miller stood tall at the free throw line. Point 27. Point 28. Her record setting night was great, but what it meant for Jacksonville women's basketball was greater.

When asked about her mindset going into the game, she had a simple answer.

"To win."

Miller and Dolphins won 86-77 in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Basketball Tournament. Miller scored a career-high 28 points as Jacksonville took care of business in its first game of the postseason.

Jacksonville had to play without ASUN Player of the Year Priscilla Williams and key contributors Aniah Smith and Comari Mitchell, but the entire team stepped up to fuel a Dolphins victory.

Five players scored in double-figures, including a career-high 18 points from Mariah Knight. Jacksonville hit eight triples and shot 26-35 from the line to fuel the second-highest scoring output by a team in the ASUN Tournament so far.

The Dolphins jumped out to an early lead, taking control of the game in the first quarter. Junior Bailey Burns knocked down a triple on the opening possession, and Jacksonville was off to the races.

JU led 7-0, then another Burns triple put the Dolphins up 10-3 halfway through the opening period. West Georgia answered with a 3-pointer, then Knight answered with the first of her four triples on the night. 

Jacksonville shot 52.63% from the field and 50% from three in the first quarter, powering the Dolphins to a 25-13 lead through the first. The second quarter slowed down slightly, but behind five points each from Miller and Knight, the Dolphins took a 13-point advantage into the second half. 

Burns and Miller scored back-to-back triples to open the second half, and Jacksonville looked secure for the game. Miller got to the rack for two, putting the Dolphins up 15 --- their largest lead of the game.

The Wolves clawed back a bit in the fourth quarter, but Jacksonville kept them at arms reach. As West Georgia cut the lead to single digits, freshman Tatum Brown scored three points to put the Dolphins back up 10.

The Dolphins closed it out from the free throw line, with six points from Miller alone at the charity stripe to power Jacksonville to a victory.

Game Notes

• The Dolphins have scored at least 80 points 10 times this season, posting a 9-1 record when they eclipse the 80 point mark.
• Miller has scored 50 points in the last two games, tying and then smashing her career high.
• This is JU's third-highest scoring conference game this season.
• Brown finished with zero turnovers in 40 minutes played. Brown and Miller both played all 40 minutes.
• This is Jacksonville's first quarterfinal win since 2017-18 and 11th trip to the league's final four.

Postgame With Head Coach Special Jennings, Senior Makiya Miller and Sophomore Mariah Knight

Up Next
The Dolphins will face the winner of North Alabama and Central Arkansas in the ASUN Semifinal Saturday at 1:30 PM back at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.