Jacksonville women reach ASUN Tournament final after semifinal win, setting March 9 title matchup

Jacksonville returns to the conference championship stage in downtown Jacksonville

Jacksonville University’s women’s basketball team advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Tournament final on Saturday, March 7, 2026, defeating Central Arkansas 67-58 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The result sends the Dolphins into the league’s championship game for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Jacksonville’s path to Monday’s title game has been anchored by consecutive victories in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. In the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5, the Dolphins outscored West Georgia 86-77. Two days later, Jacksonville followed with a lower-scoring semifinal in which defensive possessions and free-throw opportunities became more prominent.

How the semifinal was decided

Against Central Arkansas, Jacksonville built and protected its advantage across the second half, limiting the Sugar Bears’ efficiency while generating enough offense to keep control late. The Dolphins entered the fourth quarter with a six-point lead (51-45) and finished the game by maintaining separation through the final minutes.

The 67 points marked a shift from Jacksonville’s 86-point quarterfinal output, reflecting the tighter margins typical of late-round tournament play. Central Arkansas, the No. 3 seed in the bracket, arrived in the semifinal after advancing through earlier rounds, setting up a matchup between two teams that had navigated the tournament’s move to a single championship site for the final rounds.

What’s next: ASUN Championship on March 9

Jacksonville will face Austin Peay in the ASUN Tournament championship game on Monday, March 9, 2026, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start and is set for national cable television on ESPNU.

The 2026 ASUN women’s tournament is being staged in Jacksonville from March 3-9, with early-round games hosted at campus sites and the quarterfinals through final played at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The championship game will determine the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

Key verified details

• Semifinal score: Jacksonville 67, Central Arkansas 58 (Saturday, March 7, 2026).
• Quarterfinal score: Jacksonville 86, West Georgia 77 (Thursday, March 5, 2026).
• Championship: Jacksonville vs Austin Peay, Monday, March 9, 2026, 5 p.m., at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Dolphins’ run places them one win from a conference tournament championship and the NCAA automatic bid, with the title game set in downtown Jacksonville.