JMU's Defensive Stand Clinches 74-64 Win at Drexel

Friday, February 24

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

21-6, 14-2

Drexel

20-7, 11-5

James Madison

Drexel

2/24/2017 9:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score @JMUWBasketball WBB on Instagram WBB on Facebook

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – James Madison women's basketball clinched a top-two seed in next month's Colonial Athletic Association tournament with a 74-64 win at Drexel on Friday night. The Dukes (21-6, 14-2) have now won 10 straight against the Dragons (20-7, 11-5).

Redshirt senior guard Precious Hall moved into second place on JMU's all-time scoring chart with her game-high 24 points. She was joined in double figures by redshirt junior forward Amber Porter (15 pts) and junior guard Hailee Barron (10 pts) as JMU finished the night shooting 43.6 percent (24-55) from the floor.

JMU limited Drexel to 34.0-percent shooting (18-53) on the night, including a 14.3-percent mark (2-14) in the opening frame that allowed the Dukes to push out to a double-digit lead early.

.@JMUWBasketball with another big road win defeating @DrexelWBB 74-64. Here are the highlights.

HIGHLIGHTS pic.twitter.com/pdBXS0aOki
— CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) February 25, 2017

The Dukes (21-6, 14-2) led by as many as 21 points in the second quarter, but the Dragons (20-7, 11-5) steadily chipped away at the advantage. Drexel opened the fourth quarter on a 9-1 run, making it a one-possession game with 6:36 left in regulation.

Drexel kept it close the rest of the way, pulling back within four (64-60) with 1:20 to play before Hall drained a 3-pointer from the corner off the Dragons' full-court press. A pair of free throws at the other end made a five-point contest as the final-minute foul game began. Reynolds sank the first of two attempts, but an offensive rebound by Butler returned possession to the Dukes and set up their 7-2 spurt to close the game.

WITH CARE
Both JMU and Drexel took care of the ball in the second half, turning the ball over just four and five times, respectively. The Dukes did not commit a turnover in the fourth quarter, but forced the Dragons into four giveaways.

And with her 1st bucket tonight, @Its_PHall moved into 2nd place on JMU's career scoring chart, passing JMU great @tyoung11! #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/AlGPv2sRIE
— JMU Dukes WBB (@JMUWBasketball) February 25, 2017

P2K
Precious Hall is now second on JMU's all-time scoring chart at 2,144 career points after scoring 24 on Friday night, her 27^th consecutive double-digit scoring performance. She passed Tamera Young (JMU '08) on the all-time scoring chart (2,121pts).

CAA LANDSCAPE
With the win, JMU has clinched a top-two seed at the CAA Tournament, held March 8-11 at the Convo. Elon is also guaranteed a top-two spot after winning 57-48 at Delaware.

With that result, @JMUWBasketball all the way up to #32 in RPI https://t.co/0rLtVTOlMq
— Kevin Warner (@KevinAWarner) February 25, 2017

UP NEXT
JMU returns home to finish out the last two regular-season games. The Dukes host William & Mary on Sunday, Feb. 26 in a 5 p.m. clash airing on ASN before closing out against College of Charleston on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. on Senior Day.