Jacksonville, Fla. - Junior Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) and sophomore Kerri Simpson (Charleston, Tenn.) each scored 13 points to keep the game close yet Stetson (5-21, 5-12 A-Sun) could not hold on late and fell 61-47 to host Jacksonville (8-16, 7-9 A-Sun) Saturday afternoon in the Veterans Memorial Arena. Junior Natasha Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) added 11 points and led the Hatters with eight rebounds. Drameka Griggs was the game's high scorer with 18 points.
Stetson shot 23.1% (15-of-65) from the field 70.8% (17-for-24) from the line, compared to 33.3% (21-for-63) and 76.2% (16-of-21) for Jacksonville. The key stat in the game however was JU's rebounding edge. The Dolphins outrebounded the Hatters 59-42 overall, and 20-16 on the offensive end of the floor.
"When we are not shooting real well we can not afford to give another team 20 offensive rebounds", said Stetson head coach Lynn Bria. "I thought we did a good job handling their pressure, I am a little disappointed in or rebounding effort."
Although they gave up some key rebounds, Stetson outscored JU 18-14 in the paint and 16-13 after turnovers. The Hatters also put forward an intense defensive effort causing 17 turnovers by the Dolphins and keeping them in the game until the very end.
Late in the game and down by just four points at 47-43 Stetson swarmed JU on the defensive end looking for a stop. At 2:33 and with just one second left on the shot clock Crystal Grable launched a 3-pointer while moving away from the basket and her prayer was answered. Over the final two and a half minutes JU used its new found momentum to go on an 11-4 run and increase the final deficit to 14 points.
"Grable's shot was a dagger, it hurt us, but I don't think it cost us the game", said Bria. "This game was won and lost in the rebounding."
Throughout the first half Stetson and Jacksonville took turns controlling play. After the Dolphins opened the game with a 9-2 run, the Hatters stormed back with seven unanswered points on Tierra Brown and Kerri Simpson jumpers sandwiched around a three-point play by Ashli Jackson. Twice JU pushed the lead back to six points before the Hatters' Lyllique Roman buried a baseline jumper with 10 seconds remaining to even the score at 21 heading into the locker room.
Next up for the Hatters will be a return to the Edmunds Center for their final home games of the season. Stetson will take on Belmont Thursday, February 18 at 5:30 p.m., and Lipscomb on Saturday, February 20 at 3:00 p.m. Saturday will be senior day for the Hatters, the final home game in the career of senior Ashli Jackson. Stetson fans can see the game on Hatter Vision by going to www.gohatters.com. Bill Topping will call the action with Dee Romine providing the color.
