JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (December 11, 2020) – The Webber International University women's basketball team found itself down by only four points with five minutes remaining in an exhibition game at NCAA Division-I Jacksonville University, but in the end, the Warriors fell 67-52 on Friday evening inside Swisher Gymnasium.

Down 13 points (37-24) at halftime and then down by 15 (39-24) early in the third quarter, Webber stormed back with an 11-0 run to get within four points of the Dolphins at 39-35 with 5:39 left in the period.

Within the next minute, a layup by Amaya Small followed by a Jacksonville turnover and a layup by Paris Copeland made it only a two-point game at 41-39 with 4:38 on the clock.

Then, after trailing by 11 (54-43) entering the fourth quarter, back-to-back scores by LeAndra Franklin made it a seven-point game at 54-47 less than two minutes into the period.

A minute and a half later, a 3-pointer by Copeland got the Warriors to within six at 56-50, and then a nice pull up jumper on a fast break by Copeland made it only a four-point deficit at 56-52 with 5:15 left to play. Unfortunately, the Dolphins ended the game on an 11-0 run.

"I was so proud of our effort today," said Head Coach Grady Morrell. "If we give that same kind of effort every night, we will have nothing to worry about going forward."

In the end, Copeland scored 16 points to lead the Warriors while Franklin added 14 points and six assists. Dasia Wandick was next with eight points, and Rushell Jacob had six.

Early in the first quarter, Webber actually led 2-0 on a layup by Thalia Jackson, assisted by Franklin, while the Dolphins started the game by missing each of their first five shots.

It was a very competitive first quarter for the Warriors as after trailing 9-2 halfway through the opening period, a jumper by Wandick followed by a 3-pointer by Franklin made it 9-7. A 3-pointer by Copeland with two minutes left in the quarter put the Warriors behind only 14-10, and then a midrange jumper by Copeland with 1:19 on the clock made it only a two-point game at 14-12 before Jacksonville went up 19-12 entering the second quarter.

The Warriors will return to the court tomorrow, Saturday, December 12, for a nonconference game at Edward Waters College starting at 2 p.m.