NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University Women's Basketball Team fell in a 72-54 decision to Jacksonville University, Thursday night inside Allen Arena. 

Final Score: Jacksonville 72, Lipscomb 54
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (7-13, 4-5), Jacksonville (13-7, 5-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Molly Heard scored the first five points of the game, Jacksonville went on a 7-0 run to take the 12-5 lead at the first media timeout. The Dolphins knocked down five of their first nine shots, while the Bisons were held to 2-of-8. 

Lipscomb did chip away at the deficit with some early free throws, but it was Jacksonville that held the 19-14 advantage after one quarter. 

To start the second quarter, the Bisons used a quick 4-0 run on a second chance layup by Heard and free throws by McKayla Miller to cut what was a seven-point margin down to 19-18 with 9:09 left. 

However, an 11-3 run by the Dolphins helped the visitors take a 39-30 lead in to the locker room. 

JU swelled the lead to 14 with a Priscilla Williams 3-pointer to improve the lead to 44-30. 

The Dolphins held the Bisons to 1-of-5 in the first six minutes of the first quarter, with Hannah Richardson breaking the drought with a jumper at the 4:51 mark. 

Maris Zurliene nailed a triple with under a minute remaining in the third to cut the deficit to single digits, but Comari Mitchell gave the Dolphins the 54-43 score going into the fourth quarter. 

Despite McKayla Miller's 3-pointer at the 5:54 mark to make it a seven-point contest, 58-51, the Bisons were in a situation where they have not been in much at all this season: having players in foul trouble. With a thin bench, three players had four or more in the game. 

Averaging 13.5 fouls per game, Lipscomb was whistled 21 times in the contest, and Jacksonville took advantage, going 8-of-9 from the charity stripe to pull away and earn the road victory. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb knocked down 17-of-18 shots from the free throw line. The 94.4 percentage ties the second-best mark in a game for the Bisons, last done against Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 4, 2025. 

Hope Counts swatted away four blocks in the contest to increase her season total to 41. Now she and Jess Reese (44) from 2010-11 are the two freshmen in Lipscomb's Division I history to have 40 or more blocks in a season. Counts needs four more blocks to set the single-season freshman record. 

KEY STATISTICS
Three Bisons hit double figures on the night, led by McKayla Miller's 15 points on four connections from beyond the arc. 

Molly Heard added 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and assists, while Hannah Richardson scored 10 off the bench. 

Taylor Bowen had nine rebounds and six points, while Hope Counts picked up nine rebounds and swatted away four shots. 

UP NEXT
Lipscomb's three-game home stand continues on Saturday afternoon against North Florida. Tip inside Allen Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m.