JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Dolphins are going to the ASUN Tournament Championship.

Behind a dominating defensive effort against Central Arkansas in the Semifinals, the 'Phins are going to the ASUN Tournament Championship for the first time since the 2017-18 season, defeating the Sugar Bears 67-58.

Jacksonville forced 18 turnovers and limited UCA to just 28.6% shooting form the floor, including a 17.2% rate from beyond the arc. The turnover number was the fourth highest all year for the Sugar Bears. Its overall shooting percentage was its second worst all season.

For the Dolphins, Makiya Miller led the charge in scoring again in tournament play, totaling a team-high 12 points. Miller has gone for 40 points combined in two ASUN Tournament games. Bailey Burns was second on the team in scoring with 10.

Freshman phenom Tatum Brown scored nine, but grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, tying her collegiate best outing. It was her fourth game this season with double-digit rebounds.

The Dolphins got ahead early and led 21-14 after a quarter of play. By halftime, the lead had extended to a 35-25. At the 4:20 mark in the second quarter, JU had a 13-point advantage and rode all the momentum that VyStar Arena could offer into the break.

Out of the stoppage, UCA trimmed the lead to just a 38-35 Dolphin advantage halfway through the third quarter. The Jacksonville offense answered, pushing the game back up to a 10-point led before entering the final 10 minutes of play up six, 51-45.

The fourth quarter got as close as four points, but Jacksonville never lost the lead en route to its championship berth. The Dolphins will compete for a conference championship for the first time in nine years and have a potential NCAA bid on the line if they are victorious, which could break a decade long drought for the program.

Lifting the 'Phins to the title fight, Priscilla Williams and Comari Mitchell also added nine points. Carmaya Bowman notched eight points herself. 

Jacksonville was outrebounded in total by five, 45-40, and dealt with turnover problems itself (16) but led for all but 40 seconds of Saturday afternoon's Semifinal tilt.

By game's end, JU finished with a 40.4% shooting mark. It was the sixth straight game Jacksonville finished a game shooting better than 40% from the floor. Head coach Special Jennings' team also had 28 points off the bench, helping stave off any late Sugar Bear push.

The Dolphins earned the #2 seed in the ASUN Tournament after being predicted to finish seventh overall in the league. They are now one game away from an NCAA Tournament appearance. Before they get there however, the 'Phins will have to go through #8 Austin Peay Monday night.

The last time the two programs met, Jacksonville left Clarksville victorious after a game-winner from Bowman. That win was part of a nine-game win streak Jacksonville mounted during the back half of the season. Prior to that game, APSU won the conference opener inside Swisher Gymnasium 71-65. 

APSU defeated #9 Lipscomb, #1 EKU and #4 Stetson to punch its ticket to the tournament final. 

The Dolphins and the Governors will square off on ESPNU at 5 p.m., Monday March 9 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. For more information on the ASUN Tournament, click HERE.
 
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