HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Trailing 15-11 at the end the first quarter, James Madison connected on 29-of-46 (.630) from the field over the final three quarters and posted a 53-33 advantage over Georgia State for an 84-64 victory in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action on Thursday afternoon inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The Dukes (10-5, 2-1 Sun Belt) poured in 42 points in the paint, while limiting the Panthers (6-9, 1-2 Sun Belt) to just three second-chance points.
Four players scored in double-figures, led by Zakiya Stephenson with a career-high 22 points. Stephenson registered 19 points in the second half, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-3 from behind the arc.
Ashanti Barnes (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Peyton McDaniel (14 points, 12 rebounds) both finished with double-doubles. Bree Robinson added 13 points, a game-high six assists and three steals. Angela Williams and Kylie Marshall chipped in with five points apiece off the bench. Meanwhile, Delilah Soltys wrangled in a career-high 10 rebounds and dished out four helpers in 15 minutes as a reserve.
For GSU, Crystal Henderson and Grace Lanier led the way with 13 points, with Henderson being held to 6-of-18 (.333) from the field. Lanier paced all players with four steals, while Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu pulled down six rebounds in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – GSU 15, JMU 11
• The Panthers closed on an 8-0 run for the four-point lead (15-11) after one.
• JMU out-rebounded GSU 17-7 in the opening frame, but committed seven turnovers.
Second Quarter – JMU 35, GSU 31
• After a free throw from Robinson-Nwagwu to make it 16-11 Panthers, the Dukes scored seven unanswered to take an 18-16 lead at the 7:43 mark.
• Barnes set the tone with seven points and six boards in the period, as JMU went 8-for-14 (.571) from the floor.
Third Quarter – JMU 61, GSU 46
• A quick 8-0 scoring spurt late in the third put the Dukes ahead 56-40 with 1:48 left in the third.
• JMU shot 9-of-15 (.600) from the field and forced the Panthers to commit six turnovers.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 84, GSU 64
• The Dukes went on a 19-5 scoring stretch, taking a 27-point lead (82-55) with 1:51 remaining.
• Stephenson registered 10 points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range.
Game Notes
• JMU held an advantage in points in the paint (42-32), points off turnovers (17-13), fast-break points (13-8) and second-chance points (12-3).
• Two Dukes recorded double-doubles for the first time since McDaniel (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Barnes (16 rebounds, 14 points) did so against Virginia Tech earlier this season on Nov. 23.
• The double-double was the 26th of McDaniel’s career and the 13th for Barnes.
• Three JMU players (McDaniel – 12, Barnes – 11, Soltys – 10) grabbed double-digit rebounds in the same game for the first time since 2021 when Anne Diouf (12), Jaylin Carodine (12) and Kiki Jefferson achieved the feat at College of Charleston on Jan. 30.
• The Dukes have made eight or more triples five times this season.
• JMU’s 84 points are the second-most it has scored this season behind an 87-38 win over Queens on Nov. 9.
• Robinson has produced multiple steals in 10 outings this season, including seven with three or more.
— JMU Athletics —
