HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison and No. 19 Notre Dame played even for the final three quarters (53-53), however, the Fighting Irish finished the first quarter ahead 25-12 and held on to the lead for a 78-65 victory on Sunday afternoon in front of 4,211 fans – the second-largest crowd ever for a women’s basketball game at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The Dukes (8-4) trailed by 20 (56-36) at the 3:31 mark of the third but cut the deficit to nine with 7:40 to go in the fourth. Notre Dame (8-2, 1-0 ACC) ultimately separated itself by scoring 21 points off 19 JMU turnovers and pouring in 38 paint points.
Ashanti Barnes posted a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 8-for-17 (.471) from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Zakiya Stephenson finished with 11 points and four assists, while Peyton McDaniel knocked down a pair of threes for 10 points. Angela Williams chipped in with eight points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench in 14:33 of action.
For the Fighting Irish, Cassandre Prosper led all scorers with 24 points, connecting on 11-of-16 (.688) from the floor, to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Malaya Cowles posted 17 points and a game-best five steals, and recorded Notre Dame’s sole block of the afternoon. Hannah Hidalgo was limited to 13 points on 2-of-10 (.200) from the field – the fewest made field goals by the guard in her career.
How It Happened
First Quarter – ND 25, JMU 12
• Notre Dame went ahead 14-5 at the first media timeout, with the Dukes going 1-of-8 (.125) from the field to open the game.
• Barnes kept JMU afloat with seven points and five rebounds.
Second Quarter – ND 40, JMU 26
• The two programs went shot-for-shot in the second, as both teams connected on 5-of-14 (.357) from the floor.
• Notre Dame was held without a made field goal for the final 2:23.
Third Quarter – ND 60, JMU 45
• A jumper from Iyana Moore put the Fighting Irish ahead by 20 (56-36) – their biggest lead of the game – with 3:31 remaining in the frame.
• Williams came in as a reserve and supplied the Dukes with eight points in five minutes.
Fourth Quarter – ND 78, JMU 65
• The Dukes opened the final period on a quick 7-1 run to cut the deficit to nine (61-52) with 7:40 to go in the fourth.
• Barnes and McDaniel scored 15 of JMU’s 20 fourth-quarter points, while Stephenson dished out three assists.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in bench points (17-8), second-chance points (14-8) and fast-break points (12-8).
• The Dukes out-rebounded Notre Dame 40-32.
• Barnes’ double-double was her fourth this season and 12th of her career.
• Stephenson scored in double figures for the first time since producing 13 points in the Dukes’ 80-48 season-opening win against Kent State on Nov. 3.
• The 4,211 fans in attendance marked the second-largest women’s basketball crowd at the Atlantic Union Bank Center behind 4,375 in JMU’s 66-53 win over Old Dominion on Feb. 15, 2025.
— JMU Athletics —
