WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GETS 20TH WIN, 74-59 AT NORTHEASTERN

Friday, February 24

Boston, Mass.

James Madison University

20-5, 12-4CAA

Northeastern

7-18, 3-13CAA

James Madison

Northeastern

2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Game Statistics
BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2006 -- James Madison rode a 30-point, 16-rebound performance by junior Meredith Alexis (Hanover Township, Pa./Bishop Hoban) to a 74-59 victory at Northeastern in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball Friday night at Solomon Court.

The Dukes got their 20th win as JMU improved to 20-5 overall and 12-4 in league play. Northeastern dropped to 7-18 overall and 3-13 in the CAA.

JMU led by as many as 17 (38-21 at 2:36) but Northeastern stormed back to take a four-point lead, 43-39, with 12 minutes to play. The Dukes went more than 11 minutes without a field goal as the Huskies outscored JMU 17-1 over the final 2:30 of the first half and the first 8:52 of the second half.

In that span JMU turned the ball over seven times and missed 12 field-goal-tries. Northeastern scored nine of its 17 points following JMU turnovers.

Then Alexis broke the drought with a layup at 11:08 followed by a three-point play at 10:33 to put the Dukes ahead to stay at 44-43.

JMU outscored Northeastern 17-5 in the final 4:14 to pull away from the Huskies.

In the first half, with the score tied at 17 at 11:29, the Dukes scored 16 unanswered points to go ahead 33-17 at 5:20. Alexis accounted for eight of those points and had 14 points by halftime.

JMU led by as many as 17 (38-21 at 2:26) before Northeastern scored the final seven points of the half to cut the lead to 10 (38-28) at intermission.

Alexis was joined in double-figures by sophomore Tamera Young (Wilmington, N.C./Laney) with 14 and junior Shirley McCall (Collinsville, Va./Bassett) with 12.

Alexis recorded her 37th career double-double, adding to her school record. She also had her 48th career double-figure rebounding game, also a school record, and increased her school career-record rebounding total to 869. It was her 13th double-double of the season, tying the school record Alexis already shared with Sarah Schreib (1995-96). Alexis first got 13 double-doubles in a season as a freshman in 2003-04.

Northeastern was led by Stefanie Hodell, who came off the bench to hit seven of nine field-goal attempts for a team-high 15 points. Ashlee Feldman added 13 and Maralene Zwarich scored 11. Zwarich and Hodell each finished with seven rebounds.