Savannah Steel fall to Jacksonville Waves 86-75 in road rematch
A strong debut from Jak Mwenentanda and another gritty effort offers encouraging signs.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
The Savannah Steel came up short Friday night in Jacksonville, falling 86-75 to the Jacksonville Waves in a rematch that again showed the team’s toughness and resilience.
Savannah entered the game looking to build off the momentum from Thursday’s near comeback.
One of the biggest bright spots for Savannah was the debut of newcomer Jak Mwenentanda. Playing in her first game with the Steel after just one practice, Mwenentanda made an immediate impact and gave the lineup an early spark.
With support from Noodey Jenkins and Harmoni Turner, Savannah shot 44% from the floor in the first half and looked much sharper offensively than it did the night before.
Still, Jacksonville’s defense created problems early. The Waves forced 12 Savannah turnovers in the first half and used that pressure, along with trips to the free-throw line, to build a 45-35 lead at halftime.
The pace picked up in the third quarter, with both teams trading baskets in a fast-moving stretch. Jacksonville’s Rennia Davis helped lead the charge again, while Dyaisha Fair answering for Savannah and keeping the Steel within reach.
Savannah also made its presence felt on the glass. The Steel grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and consistently battled for extra possessions, even if they were not always able to turn those chances into points. Jacksonville closed the third quarter with a buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer from Emma Von Essen to take a 68-53 lead.
The Steel cleaned up their ball handling after halftime, committing just three turnovers in the second half. Even after Jacksonville stretched its lead to 18 points, Savannah kept fighting and chipped away late rather than letting the game get away.
The loss is Savannah’s fourth straight, while Jacksonville improves to 8-3 on the season.
Despite the result, the Steel showed encouraging signs in the back-to-back road set. Mwenentanda’s debut added a new piece to the lineup, the second-half execution improved, and Savannah’s effort on the boards continued to stand out.
The Steel will return home on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, to host the Charlotte Crown. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.