GREENVILLE, N.C. (JMU Athletics) – Peyton McDaniel knocked down six three-pointers as James Madison went 9-for-22 (.409) from behind the arc to defeat East Carolina, 83-66, in non-conference women’s basketball action on Wednesday night in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
After trailing 19-15 at the end of the first, the Dukes (7-3) were able to retake the lead and pull away with 30 points in the second. Meanwhile, the Pirates (4-5) were held to 1-of-10 (.100) from three over the final three quarters.
JMU shot .500 from the floor (32-of-64) and grabbed 48 rebounds, while holding ECU to a season-low six offensive boards.
McDaniel finished with 22 points on 8-of-12 (.667) from the field and 6-of-9 (.667) from three and paced all players with nine rebounds. The guard also tied her career high of three assists and added a block.
Brianna McLeod came off the bench and recorded career highs in points (12) and blocks (5). Bree Robinson (11) and Ashanti Barnes (10) also finished in double figures, with Robinson dishing out six assists.
Three Pirates produced double-digit scoring efforts, led by Kennedy Fauntleroy with 17, followed by Savannah Brooks (14) and Keanna Rembert (10).
How It Happened
First Quarter – ECU 19, JMU 15
• After the opening basket from Barnes, the Pirates answered with a 10-0 run over the next 1:38.
• Barnes added eight points and four boards in the opening frame.
Second Quarter – JMU 45, ECU 30
• The Dukes scored six unanswered to take a 21-19 edge at the 8:33 mark.
• Tied 21-21, JMU turned up the heat offensively, outscoring ECU 24-9 the rest of the way.
• Williams came off the bench and produced nine points, four rebounds and two assists in the second period.
• The Pirates were limited to 2-of-13 (.154) from the field, making 6-of-8 (.750) from the line.
Third Quarter – JMU 66, ECU 48
• A pair of free throws from Barner cut the deficit to nine as ECU trailed 51-42 at the 6:42 mark.
• McDaniel had 14 points on 4-of-5 (.800) from behind the arc.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 83, ECU 66
• The Pirates outscored JMU 18-17 in the final frame, connecting on 9-of-17 (.529) from the field.
• McLeod led all players with six points in the frame.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in rebounds (48-26), points in the paint (42-36), bench points (35-15) and second-chance points (20-6).
• The Dukes’ nine triples are the most by the program since hitting 9-of-21 (.429) against Ball State on Feb. 8, 2025.
• JMU was +22 (48-26) on the glass, its biggest rebounding margin this season.
• JMU tied its season high for points in a quarter with 30 in the second, equaling its output in the third frame versus Kent State (Nov. 3).
• Additionally, the 30-point period against the Pirates tied the Dukes’ season high for points in any quarter, also pouring in 30 versus Boston College (Nov. 28) at the Daytona Beach Classic.
• McDaniel’s scoring output marked her 34th game with 20-plus points and sixth game with six or more three-pointers.
• Robinson is the first JMU player to play all 40 minutes of a regulation game since Angela Mickens did so in the 2016 CAA Quarterfinals versus College of Charleston on March 10, 2016, in a 53-50 win.
— JMU Athletics —
