Balanced Team Effort Powers JMU to Seventh Straight Win

Friday, January 19

Charleston, S.C.

6:30 p.m.

James Madison University

10-7, 6-0

College of Charleston

5-13, 1-6

James Madison

Col. of Charleston

1/19/2018 8:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Balanced scoring and defense powered James Madison women's basketball to its seventh consecutive win, a 67-45 victory at College of Charleston on Friday evening.

The Dukes (10-7, 6-0 CAA) held the Cougars (5-13, 1-6 CAA) without a field goal for the opening 12:29 of play. CofC's four first-quarter points, all off free throws, marked the second-lowest quarter amongst Colonial Athletic Association schools this season and the lowest single-quarter tally in league play this year.

All 10 eligible Dukes saw the floor and scored at least two points in the victory, led by 15 points from sophomore Lexie Barrier and a season-high 10 points from sophomore Devon Merritt.

STATS OF NOTE

Kayla Cooper-Williams had a season-high 16 rebounds, marking the first time a Duke has pulled down 15 or more rebounds since Precious Hall had 16 at Delaware on Jan. 13, 2017. She also tied her season high of five blocks.
Devon Merritt reached double figures for the first time this season and second time in her career with 10 points.
Kamiah Smalls dished out a career-best six assists.
Hailee Barron tied a career high in steals (3) and tied a season high in assists (3).
Lexie Barrier reached double figures for the 10th time this season with a game-high 15 points.

HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
With back-to-back blocks on an early first-quarter possession by Charleston, redshirt sophomore Kayla Cooper-Williams became just the ninth player in JMU history to reach the 100-block mark for her career. She tied her season high with five blocks on the night and now ranks ninth in program history at 103 for her career.

GIVE IT AWAY NOW
Charleston turned the ball over 12 times in the first half while JMU gave it away just four times during that same time span. The Dukes gave up the ball 10 times in the second frame while the Cougars turned it over 11 times over the final 20 minutes.

ON THE LINE
The Cougars went to the line eight times in the first half, converting all eight attempts, while the Dukes got there just twice, making one. JMU turned it around in the second half, getting to the line 10 times and making seven, compared to Charleston's seven trips to the line, making three of them.

PAINTING THE LANE
JMU finished the first half leading Charleston 26-4 in points in the paint and closed the game with a 38-14 advantage in the lane.

MAKING YOUR CHANCES COUNT

The Dukes outscored the Cougars 16-2 in second-chance points.
JMU's bench accounted for 32 points while Charleston's bench was unable to score a point in the game.

FOR CONSISTENCY'S SAKE
Senior Hailee Barron got the start tonight to make her 118th consecutive appearance for the Dukes, the 10th-longest streak in JMU history. She needs to appear in the next six games to tie for the top five and seven games to move into sole possession of third all-time.

UP NEXT
The Dukes continue their southern road swing at UNCW on Sunday, Jan. 21 in a 2 p.m. tip-off. The game marks the Seahawks' annual Play4Kay Pink Game.