Box score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tracie Sneed scored 18 points and knocked down a key 3-pointer late in the game as Jacksonville posted a 65-60 win over Northern Kentucky on Monday night in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams.
After NKU rallied from a 10-point deficit to slice the Jacksonville lead to 56-53, Sneed buried a 3-pointer while being fouled with 1:35 remaining in the game to extend the Dolphins' advantage to 59-53. She missed the free throw, but Jade Cargill grabbed the offensive rebound.
NKU fouled Ronisha Mitchell, who made two free throws to give the Dolphins a 61-53 edge with 1:15 left on the clock. The Norse were able to get within three points twice in the last minute, but Queen Alford and Sneed both made a pair of free throws to seal the Jacksonville (5-7 overall, 1-0 A-Sun) victory in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Tiara Hopper and
Kayla Thacker each scored 16 points to lead NKU, which dropped to 3-7 overall, 0-1 in the A-Sun. Hopper also grabbed eight rebounds for the Norse, and Thacker finished with seven boards.
Hopper scored NKU's first six points and
Jaimie Hamlet added a long trey as the Norse built an early 9-3 lead. NKU still owned a 13-7 advantage after a
Kaitlyn Gerrety basket, but Jacksonville stormed back with an 11-2 run to take an 18-15 lead.
Jacksonville's bench outscored NKU's reserves 13- 5 in the first half as the Dolphins took a 33-31 lead into the locker room. Sneed scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half to lead Jacksonville.
Christine Roush dished out a game-high six assists for NKU. She also added six rebounds and six points
Jacksonville finished 22-for-25 from the free-throw line, while NKU was 10-for-12 from the stripe. Sneed grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Cargill added 12 points for the Dolphins, and Alford scored 11.
NKU concludes the road trip Wednesday by playing at North Florida at 5 p.m. That game will also be televised live on ESPN3.
