HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison shot an Atlantic Union Bank Center record 59.7% (37-of-62) from the field for its largest margin of victory in Sun Belt Conference play with a 96-45 wire-to-wire win over Louisiana on Thursday night.
The Dukes (15-8, 7-4 Sun Belt) made a season-high 37 field goals on a season-best 25 assists, while holding the Ragin’ Cajuns (2-19, 1-10 Sun Belt) to 26.8% (15-of-56) from the floor.
JMU’s victory was aided by an 11-of-28 (.393) performance from three-point range for the program’s 15th consecutive home win against league foes.
Ashanti Barnes scored 14 points on 7-of-10 (.700) from the field to eclipse 1,000 Division I career points between her stops at Old Dominion (2021-22) and James Madison (2023-Present). The forward also dished out three assists and came away with three steals.
Bree Robinson led all players in scoring, tying her career high with 22 points on 8-of-13 (.615) from the field to go with six assists and four steals. Kylie Marshall supplied 14 points off the bench on 4-of-8 (.500) from three, while Peyton McDaniel finished with 13 points, a game-high eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Angela Williams produced 12 points, five boards, and three steals in 19 minutes as a reserve. Grace McDonough grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and notched seven points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Zakiya Stephenson registered seven points and six helpers in the loss.
For Louisiana, Mikayla Manley scored 21 points on 9-of-17 (.529) from the floor, while the rest of the team shot 15.4% (6-of-39). Imani Daniel notched a team-best seven rebounds in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 20, Louisiana 12
• Five Dukes scored as JMU went ahead 10-2 at the opening media timeout.
• The Cajuns rattled off a 6-0 run late in the first to get within five (17-12).
Second Quarter – JMU 40, Louisiana 22
• Marshall knocked down 3-of-6 (.500) from three-point range for nine points, while Robinson added seven as the Dukes increased their lead to 18 (40-22) at the intermission.
• JMU shot 48.4% (15-of-31) from the field compared to 29.2% (7-of-24) for Louisiana.
Third Quarter – JMU 64, Louisiana 38
• Robinson dominated the period with nine points on 4-for-4 from the floor and four assists.
• The Dukes recorded 10 assists on 11 made baskets for 24 points in the frame.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 96, Louisiana 45
• JMU closed in a big way – outscoring the Cajuns 32-7, with eight Dukes registering points in the period.
• McDaniel helped close the game with eight points, connecting on a pair of threes, while Delilah Soltys grabbed six rebounds.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in rebounds (46-16), bench points (33-10), fast-break points (30-4), points off turnovers (19-9), and second-chance points (18-11).
• The Dukes’ 96 points are the most scored by the team since putting up 102 against Gardner-Webb last season on Nov. 17. Additionally, the scoring output today marked the most points scored against a league opponent under Head Coach Sean O’Regan since scoring 106 versus College of Charleston on March 4, 2015.
• JMU’s 59.7% clip from the field is the most efficient outing for the program since shooting 63.6% (28-of-44) in a 69-39 win over Drexel on Feb. 28, 2020.
— JMU Athletics —
