Koshuta Notches a Double-Double as JMU Opens CAA Play with 55-42 Win at Hofstra

Friday, December 29

Hempstead, N.Y.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

5-7, 1-0CAA

Hofstra

6-6, 0-1CAA

James Madison

Hofstra

Koshuta Notches a Double-Double as JMU Opens CAA Play with 55-42 Win at Hofstra

12/29/2017 9:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After four tied scores and just as many lead changes, James Madison women's basketball used an 8-2 stretch to close the second quarter and change the lead for a fifth and final time as the Dukes (5-7, 1-0 CAA) dropped Hofstra (6-6, 0-1 CAA) in both teams' CAA opener.

Neither team led by more than five before a 7-0 spurt midway through the third quarter gave JMU a 10-point lead (39-29, 5:16). The Pride never got closer than nine points down the stretch and the Dukes pushed out to as much as a 16-point advantage (55-39, 3:40 4Q).

Three Dukes reached double figures, led by sophomore Kamiah Smalls' 18 points. Sophomore Lexie Barrier joined her with 13 points while redshirt-sophomore Kelly Koshuta notched the first double-double of her career with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DROP
Sophomore Kamiah Smalls scored in double figures for the 12th consecutive game with 18 total points, having hit the mark before halftime with 10 points in the first 20 minutes.

DOUBLING UP
Redshirt sophomore Kelly Koshuta tallied the first double-double of her career with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. This was eighth double-digit scoring performance this season.

HOW WE GOT HERE

Trailing 11-6, JMU closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take the 15-11 edge.
There were five lead changes and four tied scores in the first half. Hofstra led by as many as five points (first quarter).
Hofstra went 1-of-8 from the free throw line in the first half while JMU went 4-for-6. The Pride finished 6-for-17 from the line and the Dukes made just two attempts in the second half, both makes by sophomore Devon Merritt.
The Dukes limited the Pride to just two made 3-pointers, both of which came in the first half.
JMU outscored Hofstra 17-11 in the third quarter for its best positive-scoring margin of the game.

BLOCK PARTY
Three Dukes came away with blocks, led by four from redshirt sophomore Kayla Cooper-Williams, pushing her career total to 91. She was joined by a career-high tying two blocks from junior Logan Reynolds and one from sophomore Devon Merritt.

CONVERTING TURNOVERS
The Dukes converted the Pride's 18 total turnovers into 13 points while limiting Hofstra to just two points off JMU's 15 turnovers. JMU turned the ball over just five times over the first 20 minutes, of which Hofstra was unable to convert any for points. Five of the Dukes' giveaways also came in the final 5:14 of play.

FOR CONSISTENCY'S SAKE
Senior Hailee Barron came off the bench to make her 113th consecutive appearance for the Dukes, moving her into a tie for the 11th-longest streak in JMU history. She is tied with former teammate Angela "Muff" Mickens ('16) and Jess Cichowicz ('03).

UP NEXT
The Dukes continue their CAA-opening weekend with a trip to Northeastern on Sunday, Dec. 31. They tip-off against the Huskies at 1 p.m.