Dukes To Welcome CAA Newcomer Elon Friday Night

Friday, January 30

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Elon

1/28/2015 2:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

2014-15 JMU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
GAME #20

17-2 (8-0 CAA)
Game Notes

James Madison vs. Elon
JMU Convocation Center - Harrisonburg, Va.
Friday, January 30, 2015 – 7 p.m.

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Twitter: @JMUWBasketball, #JMUDukes

12-7 (5-3 CAA)
Game Notes

Game Plan

Looking to extend its perfect start to Colonial Athletic Association play, JMU welcomes conference newcomer Elon for a 7 p.m. contest Friday night at the JMU Convocation Center.
Live audio for the contest will be available through the nTelos Wireless Network on WHBG 1360 AM locally in Harrisonburg, Va., as well as online at JMUSports.com/MadiZONE.
A free, live video broadcast of the game can be found on MadiZONE HD SportsNet, presented by the JMU Alumni Association, and can be found by visiting JMUSports.com/MadiZONE, or by clicking here.

Scouting Report

Coming off a convinvcing win at College of Charleston last time out, JMU will take on the Elon Phoenix Friday night in just the third all-time matchup between the two programs. Elon took the first victory in the series back in 1974, but the Dukes won earlier this season in North Carolina by the final score of 68-51.
On the road last Sunday night against College of Charleston, the Dukes dispatched the Cougars 73-53 for its fourth 20-point win in eight tries in conference play. Junior guard Precious Hall led the way with 20 points while redshirt-senior center Lauren Okafor posted her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Ashley Perez and senior forward Toia Giggetts also scored in double figures, each chipping in 10 points in the winning effort.
In conference play, JMU is averaging 72.8 points per game while only giving up 53.2 points per contest. The two figures add up to a winning margin of 19.5 points. Elon is the second-highest scoring team in conference action, averaging 64.1 points per game while allowing 62.2 points a contest. JMU's average point margin is far and away the CAA leader, as Hofstra checks in at No. 2 with a +4.9 margin.
Last time out against Elon, Okafor posted a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double as she went 7-of-11 from the floor and added three blocks. Hall finished with a game-high 18 points as she went 4-of-21 from the field but made 8-of-12 from the free throw line. This season, Hall has only had one game she has failed to hit double figures, which came against Northeastern on Jan. 9. Of the 19 games thus far, Hall has posted 20-plus points in 12 of them. She is shooting 36.3 percent on the season while averaging 21.1 points per game, a mark that is good for 18th in the nation.
In three games since the first meeting between JMU and Elon this season (Jan. 15), the Phoenix have gone 2-1 with wins over Northeastern (80-77, OT) and Towson (58-43). The lone loss during the stretch came on the road against UNCW, a 76-68 loss to the Seahawks. Elon is 4-2 in its last six contests and has traded off wins and losses in each of its last four games.
The Phoenix are led by Zora Stephenson, as the senior is scoring 11.4 points per game. The only other Elon player to average double figures is freshman Shay Burnett, who is chipping in 10.4 points per contest. Five other players are averaging 7.2 to 8.6 points per game for the Phoenix.
Friday's game will feature a matchup of two of the nation's most prolific 3-point shooters and passers. Averaging 3.26 made shots from range this season, Hall sits third in the nation in the category while Stephenson, with 2.95 makes per game from outside the arc, sits 16th in the nation. Dishing the ball, junior guard Angela Mickens ranks fourth in the nation with 7.7 assists per game. Averaging 5.1 assists per contest, Elon guard Essence Baucom is 38th nationally in the category.