HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Peyton McDaniel posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds – scoring 18 points in the second half – to help lead James Madison to a 67-60 victory over Georgia Southern inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Saturday afternoon in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action.
The Dukes (13-7, 5-3 Sun Belt) forced 16 turnovers to snap the Eagles’ (13-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) four-game winning streak.
Four of JMU’s starters finished in double figures: McDaniel (22), Ashanti Barnes (13), Grace McDonough (11), and Bree Robinson (10). McDaniel notched her fifth double-double of the season and recorded a season-high five steals in the win. Zakiya Stephenson dished out a team-high four assists with zero turnovers, finishing with six points. Delilah Soltys supplied the Dukes with five points and five assists off the bench.
For Georgia Southern, McKenna Eddings led the way with 14 points, while Destiny registered 10 points and five assists. Jamira Jones chipped in with six points and a team-best six boards in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 19, GS 11
• McDonough scored eight points to put the Dukes ahead 14-5 at the first media timeout.
• JMU led by as many as 11 (19-8) with 1:41 to go in the opening frame
Second Quarter – JMU 28, GS 21
• JMU started the second period 0-of-7 but held on to a 22-16 advantage at the 3:33 mark.
• Anderson produced five points in the quarter to make it a seven-point game heading into the locker room.
Third Quarter – JMU 46, GS 33
• After Kayla Cleaveland’s free throws made it 30-25 Dukes, JMU connected on four of its next five from the field for a 39-29 lead with 4:08 to play.
• Barnes added eight points on 3-of-5 (.600) from the floor.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 67, GS 60
• McDaniel produced 13 points in the final period and came away with four steals.
• JMU built a 19-point lead (63-44) at the 2:43 mark, before Georgia Southern hit a trio of three-pointers to close on a 16-3 run.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in points in the paint (36-24), points off turnovers (18-13), and second-chance points (14-9).
• McDaniel’s double-double was the 27th of her career, while the 22 points marked her 36th as a Duke.
• JMU led for 38:53, only trailing 3-2 at the 9:11 mark of the first quarter.
• The Dukes finished with 10 steals, marking back-to-back games with double-digit steals after coming away with 13 against Marshall on Thursday.
— JMU Athletics —
