FLORIDA SPORTS WIRE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's Jan. 1, 2015 and the Jacksonville University women's basketball team ushered in the new year at Swisher Gymnasium. Thursday, the Dolphins routed Thomas University (Ga.), snapping a three-game winless streak in the process, by a score of 65-38.
Kayla Gordon posted her second career double-double in the contest, leading all players in points and rebounds with 14 and 16, respectively. Sherranda Reddick finished the evening with 13 points while Kimberly Dawkins posted six points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
"Right now, any win is big for us," Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. "When you can see a shot go in, it gives you confidence. When you can get a win, it gives you confidence. Thomas is a good team. I expect them to play well in conference. For us, it's all about finding synergy on the basketball court so that we can play well together – mostly on the defensive end."
The Dolphins (4-8) never trailed in the affair. From the opening tip, JU outscored the Lady Night Hawks, 7-0. The gap, however, wasn't always as wide as Thomas, undefeated in its conference and entering the contest with a 7-3 record, pulled within one on two separate occasions before the half.
Neither team shot particularly well from the floor. While JU converted on eight of 32 attempts (25 percent), it was its 10-for-12 shooting at the free throw line that gave the team a 27-18 lead at halftime.
Jacksonville overcame its sluggish shooting with a 10-0 run to start the second half. Loliya Briggs ignited the scoring stretch with a midrange jumper and it spanned nearly three minutes as the Dolphins extended their advantage to 41-21 (16:42).
At the 7:25 mark, the Dolphins held a 29-point lead, 54-25, and their bench maintained it through the final horn. JU's final 11 points came from its reserves and Imani Kyser lead the way with six points.