The Dolphins claimed a 66-63 overtime victory against Austin Peay in the ASUN women’s basketball championship, securing the team a spot in the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville University\u2019s Priscilla Williams darted onto the court and wrapped both arms around head coach Special Jennings, lifting her off the ground with a long embrace.<\/p>\n
The final buzzer had just sounded in the Dolphins\u2019 (24-8, 13-5 ASUN) 66-63 overtime victory against Austin Peay in the ASUN women\u2019s basketball championship game and the emotions came rushing out.<\/p>\n
Williams, who fouled out with 1:27 remaining in regulation, continued to hold on to Jennings as the entire Dolphins\u2019 sideline spilled onto the court of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Jacksonville outlasted the Governors (19-13, 8-10) in a tight contest and booked an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve never quit, they\u2019ve never given up, and they\u2019ve played for each other all season,\u201d Jennings said after the game. \u201cI\u2019ve had a thrill coaching these young women. This is about them. This has been about them and I\u2019m just so happy that we we\u2019re able to get that championship today.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took grit for the Dolphins to win, overcoming a late deficit after Austin Peay’s Anovia Sheals sunk two free throws on the heels of Williams fouling out.<\/p>\n
But the Dolphins didn\u2019t flinch and responded with a Comari Mitchell floater and Makiya Miller free throw to tie the game at 56 to end regulation.<\/p>\n
As the two teams went into the extra period, Jennings only had one message for her team: \u201cThey gave us more time, we got them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacksonville needed a shot in the arm as the clock ticked down to just under two minutes remaining in overtime. Jennings signaled for timeout and grabbed her clipboard, drawing up a play that\u2019d get the Dolphins the look they wanted.<\/p>\n
With the game tied at 60, freshman point guard Tatum Brown lofted a pass to a cutting Mitchell, who snagged the ball out of the air and shot a layup all in one motion. She made the layup after being clipped by an Austin Peay defender and was swarmed by her teammates as the home fans erupted.<\/p>\n
It gave the Dolphins the push they were looking for as Mitchell\u2019s basket broke the tie and kept Jacksonville ahead for the remainder of the contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve got to want in. In that moment, I knew that my team needed me,\u201d Mitchell said of the play. \u201cNot having Priscilla on the floor, I knew my team needed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bucket gave Mitchell 10 points, joining Carmaya Brown (10) and Williams (16) as the only Dolphins to score double digit points.<\/p>\n
After a few empty trips by both teams, a baseline jump shot from Mychal White gave Jacksonville a 64-60 advantage with 20 seconds remaining. The Governors didn\u2019t go quietly, though.<\/p>\n
Mya Williams made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining\u2014giving her 20 points in 40 minutes of action\u2014to cut the lead to one. But for the second time in this tournament, Makiya Miller, who was named ASUN Tournament Most Outstanding Player after the contest, iced the game with two free throws and the Dolphins were crowned ASUN Tournament Champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur team group chat is actually called ASUN Champs,\u201d Mitchell revealed after the game. \u201cWe named it that back in the summer time when we were clashing, but we were still sticking together.\u201d<\/p>\n