The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANOTHER NCAA programme is assisting a Bahamian student athlete in their family’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Dorian.

Jacksonville University Dolphins Athletics aimed to garner support for women’s basketball player Shalonda Neely.

Fifty per cent of all ticket sales from Saturday’s football home opener DB Milne Field will go directly towards helping Neely’s family in Grand Bahama.

A total of 2,077 fans were in attendance as the Dolphins dropped their home opener to Dartmouth, 35-6.

The donation was made directly to a GoFundMe established by Neely entitled #HurricaneBahamasRelief.

“It truly is a family atmosphere here at JU,” said Jacksonville head coach Ian Shields.

“Some of our guys came up to me when it happened and asked what we could do to help.

“We’re happy to be able to help Shalonda and her family.”

Neely, a redshirt-senior and Grand Bahama native, discussed the struggle of being in Jacksonville as the storm ravaged Grand Bahama and Abaco.

“I was really nervous, especially because I didn’t speak to my family for the whole storm. The power went out and they were preserving their battery life for when they really needed it, so I went for hours without hearing from them or knowing what was going on,” Neely said.

“When I finally got through to them, it was because they needed to get rescued,” added Neely.