MONROE, La. (JMU Athletics) – Peyton McDaniel scored 16 of her 21 total points in the second half as James Madison escaped Fant-Ewing Coliseum with a 72-68 victory over ULM in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action on Thursday night.
Trailing most of the first half, the Dukes (14-7, 6-3 Sun Belt) shot 54.2% (13-of-24) in the second half to hold off the Warhawks (8-10, 3-6 Sun Belt).
McDaniel’s 21-point outing was her 37th game scoring 20 or more in her career. Ashanti Barnes finished with 17 points and a game-best nine rebounds, while dishing out four assists. Bree Robinson scored an efficient 15 points on 6-of-10 (.600) from the field and came away with five steals. Grace McDonough chipped in with eight points and pulled down four boards in the win. Brianna McLeod recorded a pair of blocks, marking her 13th game this season with multiple rejections.
Five players scored in double figures for ULM, led by Nakiyah Mays-Prince with 14, followed by Keshunti Nichols (11), Marcavia Shavers (10), Asia Barclay (10), and Jazmine Jackson (10). Mays-Prince and Asjah Inniss both registered six assists in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – ULM 16, JMU 11
• ULM took an 11-4 lead, scoring five points off four JMU turnovers, resulting in a Dukes’ timeout at the 5:17 mark.
• Mays-Prince knocked down a triple at the buzzer to give the Warhawks a five-point advantage after one.
Second Quarter – JMU 31, ULM 29
• JMU used a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the game (18-17) just over three minutes into the period.
• The Dukes held ULM to zero points in the final 2:10 to give JMU a 31-29 edge at the intermission.
• Barnes (8) and McDonough (6) led the way in scoring through 20 minutes.
Third Quarter – JMU 56, ULM 51
• Free throws from McDaniel and an acrobatic layup from Stephenson put the Dukes ahead 45-35 near the midpoint of the third frame. However, a 7-0 run by the Warhawks in a 36-second span cut the deficit to three (45-42).
• Mays-Prince connected on a corner three to tie the game at 51-51 with 1:21 to go, but a quick 5-0 run by the Dukes gave them the lead heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 72, ULM 68
• Tied 63-63 with 3:46 to go, McDaniel knocked one down from behind the line, followed by a fast-break layup to give JMU a five-point cushion (68-63).
• Holding on to a 70-68 edge, the Dukes were fouled, with Robinson sinking both shots from the line as JMU held on for the 72-68 victory.
• McDaniel scored 10 points on 4-of-7 (.571) from the floor and 2-of-4 (.500) from three-point range.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in points in the paint (34-22) and fast-break points (14-0), while ULM led in bench points (30-9).
• There were seven lead changes and five ties in the contest.
• Robinson came away with five steals for the fifth time in her career.
— JMU Athletics —
