JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Jacksonville women’s basketball team defeated Central Arkansas 96-86 in overtime Thursday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Dolphins, who improved to 10-5, used an 18-8 edge in the extra period to secure the ASUN Conference victory. The Bears fell to 9-8. Jacksonville sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 39 of 48 attempts. Central Arkansas, which shot 15 for 38 from 3-point range, went just 21 for 34 on free throws. The Dolphins also forced 25 turnovers, converting them into key scoring opportunities down the stretch. The game was tied at 78 after regulation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering disparity at the free-throw line and a dominant individual performance, the Jacksonville Dolphins outlasted the Central Arkansas Bears 96-86 in overtime in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The contest, an ASUN Conference matchup played before an announced crowd of 480, saw Jacksonville attempt 48 free throws, converting 39, while Central Arkansas went 21 of 34 from the stripe. That 18-point advantage from the line proved decisive in a game that was otherwise closely contested through four quarters. Jacksonville guard Priscilla Williams, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Houston, Texas, delivered a career-defining performance, pouring in a game-high 44 points. She was instrumental in forcing overtime and then sealing the victory, scoring 18 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime period combined. Williams also added three blocks and two assists in 38 minutes of action. Central Arkansas, which fell to 9-8 overall, was led by the backcourt duo of Jenna Cook and Cheyanne Kemp. Cook, a 5-6 guard from Cabot, Arkansas, scored 21 points, while Kemp, a 5-8 guard from Morrilton, Arkansas, added 20. Shae Littleford contributed 18 points for the Bears. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute of regulation. Trailing 78-74 with under 30 seconds to play, Jacksonville’s hopes rested on Williams. She was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left and calmly sank all three free throws to cut the deficit to one point. After a Central Arkansas turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, the Dolphins worked the ball back to Williams, who drained a deep 3-pointer from the wing with just seven seconds remaining, giving Jacksonville a sudden 80-78 lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Central Arkansas, however, showed resilience. The Bears inbounded the ball and drew a foul on a shot attempt with two seconds on the clock. Emerie Bohanon went to the line for two shots but missed both, seemingly ending the game. However, a lane violation was called on the second miss, granting Jacksonville’s Tatum Brown a single free throw. Brown made the first to extend the lead to 81-78 but missed the second intentionally. The Bears’ Kamryn Griffin secured the offensive rebound and called timeout with 1.4 seconds left. On the final play of regulation, Bohanon was fouled on a desperate heave near mid-court with 0.2 seconds remaining. She sank the first free throw to make it 81-79 and, after a Jacksonville timeout, deliberately missed the second. In a scramble for the rebound, Central Arkansas’s Bree Stephens was fouled as time expired. Stephens went to the line with no time on the clock and the Bears down two. With the arena in silence, she sank the first free throw. On the second attempt, she again deliberately missed, and the carom was tipped in by a mass of players as the horn sounded, though officials ruled the basket did not count, sending the game to overtime tied at 81-81. The overtime period belonged entirely to Jacksonville, now 10-5. The Dolphins opened with a 7-0 run, powered by two Bailey Burns layups and free throws from Comari Mitchell. Central Arkansas, visibly fatigued and hampered by turnovers, managed only five points in the extra frame, all from the free-throw line, until a Cheyanne Kemp jumper in the final minute. Jacksonville closed the game on a 9-2 spurt, with Williams and Burns combining for seven points from the line to secure the 10-point victory. Beyond the free-throw discrepancy, Jacksonville’s defensive pressure was a key factor. The Dolphins forced 25 Central Arkansas turnovers, converting them into 28 points, and recorded 13 steals and five blocks. Central Arkansas, which shot 15 of 38 from 3-point range to keep pace, was ultimately undone by its ball security and inability to get stops without fouling. Jacksonville attempted more free throws than field goals, taking 48 foul shots to 57 shots from the floor. For Jacksonville, Burns finished with 14 points, while Tatum Brown and Makiya Miller each added 12. Stephens was a key contributor for Central Arkansas with 10 points and four assists. The win improved Jacksonville’s home record and provided a pivotal conference victory, while Central Arkansas was left to rue missed opportunities at the line and crucial late-game turnovers. Both teams return to ASUN play on Saturday, with Jacksonville hosting North Alabama and Central Arkansas traveling to face North Florida.

Preview: Central Arkansas Bears at Jacksonville Dolphins JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — A pair of ASUN Conference women’s basketball teams with identical overall win totals but diverging recent paths will meet Thursday when the Central Arkansas Bears visit the Jacksonville Dolphins. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Both teams enter with 9-win records, but Jacksonville (9-5) has played two fewer games and is looking to rebound from a 74-59 non-conference road loss at West Georgia last Saturday. The Dolphins had previously routed Queens (N.C.) 91-40 and defeated Lipscomb 72-59 in ASUN play. Central Arkansas (9-7) has dropped two of its last three, including a 64-54 home loss to Eastern Kentucky in its most recent outing this past Saturday. The Bears’ conference results have been a mixed bag, with a 56-point win over Bellarmine (85-29) bookended by losses to Eastern Kentucky and Florida Gulf Coast. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s standout guards. Central Arkansas will rely on Cheyanne Kemp, who is coming off a strong all-around performance of 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 29 minutes against Eastern Kentucky. Kemp has scored in double figures in four of her last six games, including a 17-point effort against Bellarmine. Jacksonville’s offense is spearheaded by Mychal White, who scored 15 points in the loss to West Georgia and erupted for 18 points in just 19 minutes in the win over Queens. Her scoring punch will be vital for a Dolphins team that has shown high offensive potential, scoring 90-plus points twice this season. Defensively, Central Arkansas will aim to tighten up after allowing Eastern Kentucky to shoot 44% from the field. Jacksonville will look to improve its ball security after committing 22 turnovers in the loss to West Georgia. This contest opens a critical two-game Florida swing for the Bears, who will stay in the state to face North Florida on Saturday. Jacksonville continues a brief homestand, hosting North Alabama this Saturday. Historically, the Dolphins hold a 7-3 advantage in the series, but the teams split their meetings last season, each winning on their home court.