Jacksonville Dolphins win 2026 ASUN women’s tournament title in overtime, clinching NCAA automatic bid

Overtime finish delivers Jacksonville’s first conference tournament crown since 2016

Jacksonville University’s women’s basketball team secured the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) tournament championship Monday night, defeating Austin Peay 66-63 in overtime at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville. The result delivered the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and marked Jacksonville’s second ASUN tournament title in program history.

The championship ended a 10-year gap between Jacksonville’s ASUN tournament crowns; the program previously won the title in the 2015-16 season. The victory also confirmed the Dolphins’ second NCAA Tournament appearance, following their 2016 trip.

How the title game turned late

The final featured a No. 2 seed–No. 8 seed matchup after a week of tournament play staged in Jacksonville. The ASUN format placed first-round games on campus sites before moving quarterfinals through the final to VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville led 32-26 at halftime and entered the fourth quarter ahead 49-40. Austin Peay rallied late and briefly took its first lead in regulation, 54-53, on free throws with 1:49 remaining. Jacksonville forced overtime when Makiya Miller split a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left, tying the game at 56.

In the extra period, Comari Mitchell scored to put Jacksonville ahead with 1:45 remaining. A key defensive play and ensuing basket extended the margin to four with 20.8 seconds left. Austin Peay answered with a 3-pointer 10 seconds later, but Jacksonville closed the game at the free-throw line and defended the final possession to preserve the win.

Key performers and the season context

• Priscilla Williams posted 16 points and 13 rebounds for Jacksonville, though she fouled out late in regulation.
• Mitchell scored 10 points, and Carmaya Bowman added 10 for the Dolphins.
• Austin Peay was led by Mya Williams with 20 points and seven rebounds, with Anovia Sheals adding 18 and Jim’Miyah Branton contributing 11 points and eight assists.

Jacksonville finished the tournament with a 24-8 overall record. Beyond the NCAA bid, the title aligned with a broader recent run of ASUN team-sports championships for the university since 2020 and represented the program’s latest postseason breakthrough under head coach Special Jennings.

Final: Jacksonville 66, Austin Peay 63 (OT) — ASUN Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

What comes next

With the automatic bid secured, Jacksonville now awaits its NCAA Tournament draw, including opponent, region, and seed. The Dolphins’ prior NCAA appearance came in 2016, when the program entered the bracket as a No. 16 seed.