Savannah Steel fall short against league-leading Jacksonville Waves
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
The Savannah Steel pushed the league-leading Jacksonville Waves to the brink but fell short late in an 81-75 loss, extending Savannah’s losing streak to seven games in its inaugural UPSHOT League season.
The defeat also marked Jacksonville’s fifth straight win over its I-95 rival.
Savannah stayed close early with disciplined team play and got a boost from Alisia Jenkins in the second quarter. Jenkins repeatedly attacked the basket and went 6 of 7 from the free-throw line after an 8-for-8 performance Friday, helping keep the Steel within striking distance at halftime.
In the second half, Lasha Petree and Olivia Cochran helped steady Savannah, while Zee Spearman and Petree led a fourth-quarter rally that nearly produced an upset.
Petree finished with 31 points, one shy of her season high, and Spearman tied the game at 67 with 1:38 remaining. Moments earlier, Petree found Jenkins for a layup that cut Jacksonville’s lead to two.
Jacksonville answered when Jasmine Walker hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to put the Waves ahead 70-67. Savannah remained in contention until the closing seconds, but Spearman missed a late 3-point attempt with 3.8 seconds left.
Despite roster changes in recent weeks, the Steel showed they can compete with the league’s top team.
Savannah will close its road set in Jacksonville before returning home for a “Christmas in July” game against the Charlotte Crown at 7 p.m.