12/18/2004 - Women's Basketball
Late Run Gives Jacksonville Win Over Navy
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A late 7-0 run by Jacksonville gave the Dolphins enough of a cushion to defeat Navy, 63-59, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference women's basketball game in Jacksonville, Fla. The Dolphins improved to 3-4 on the season, while the Midshipmen fell to 2-5.
Nikki Curtis (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) scored on a layup to give Navy a 55-53 with 4:31 left to play in the game. After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, a layup by Talia Johnson tied the score again with just under three minutes to play. A loose ball on Navy's next possession led to a jump ball being called, with the arrow pointing in the direction of the Dolphins. Jacksonville quickly capitalized when Nakina Alford drilled a three-point field goal with two minutes to play.
Navy again came up empty on its next possession and, after the Dolphins grabbed an offensive rebound, Sheena Carpenter converted the second-chance opportunity to give Jacksonville a 60-55 lead with 1:15 to play.
Ashley Pelzek (Jr., East Longmeadow, Mass.) made two of three free throw attempts after being fouled on a three-point attempt on Navy's next trip down the floor to cut the deficit to 60-57 with 55 seconds to play. Curtis would grab an errant Jacksonville shot and then was found wide open in the middle of the lane by Lauren Skrel (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) for an easy two points to make the score 60-59 with 19.6 seconds to play.
Navy fouled on the ensuing possession and the strategy worked as Carpenter made the first, but missed the second of her two free throw attempts. However, Johnson reached in and grabbed another offensive rebound to keep the ball alive for the Dolphins. Forced the foul again, the Mids sent Rebecca Montz to the line where she converted both attempts to seal the game.
The Mids entered halftime holding a slim 34-31 lead, thanks to shooting 56-percent from the field during the opening 20 minutes of play. Pelzek led all players at halftime with 15 points, but she would only convert a pair of free throws after intermission.
Jacksonville dominated the glass in the game, especially on its offensive end during the second half. Of the 23 rebounds distributed on that side of the floor during the second half, Navy tallied 12 defensive rebounds and Jacksonville recorded 11 offensive rebounds. In contrast, Navy totaled only nine offensive rebounds in the game and just one after halftime.
?We played well enough offensively and defensively to win the game,? said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. ?However, we had a lot of lapses on our defensive end which led to Jacksonville receiving far too many second chances. We can't have that and expect to win the game.?
Pelzek's 17 points led all Navy players, with Curtis totaling 13 points and a Navy-high seven rebounds. Skrel also finished in double figures with 13 points. Alford led all players with 22 points, while Yolisha Jackson finished with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Navy will return to action Wednesday and Thursday when it plays host to the Sheraton Barcelo Navy Classic in Alumni Hall. Wednesday's games featured Delaware State against UNC Asheville at 1 p.m., followed by Navy versus Morehead State at 3:30 p.m. The consolation game will begin Thursday at 1 p.m., to be followed by the championship game at 3:30 p.m. Both of Navy's contest can be heard over the interney at www.wnav.com(.)
