JMU Stifles UNCW for 63-48 Victory, Stretches Win Streak to Eight

Sunday, January 21

Wilmington, N.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

11-7 (7-0CAA)

UNCW

7-12 (0-8CAA)

James Madison

UNCW

Photo by: John Crouch/UNCW Athletic Communications

JMU Stifles UNCW for 63-48 Victory, Stretches Win Streak to Eight

1/21/2018 4:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – James Madison women's basketball stretched its win streak to eight games (11-7) and remained undefeated in league play (7-0) as the Dukes stifled UNCW (7-12, 0-8 CAA) down the stretch to earn the 63-48 victory.

Of the eight Dukes to see the floor, seven scored and six had at least seven points, led by sophomore Lexie Barrier's 14 points. Sophomores Kamiah Smalls and Devon Merritt joined her with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

JMU limited UNCW to 48 points, marking the fifth time in seven league games the Dukes have held their opponent to 48 points or less.

PACE OF PLAY
Down 15-12 at the 8:43 mark of the second quarter, the Dukes put together a 17-4 run to close the frame and take a 10-point lead into halftime (29-19). UNCW was able to pull within six midway through the third quarter, but a 10-1 JMU stretch to end the quarter pushed the lead back to double digits for good.

PROTECTING THE BALL
UNCW turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, seven of them forced, compared to JMU's five giveaways, leading to a 15-5 JMU advantage in points off turnovers. The pressure continued in the second half as the Seahawks finished with 21 turnovers, 11 of them stolen by the Dukes, and JMU took a 25-12 edge in points off turnovers. The Dukes had a season-low nine turnovers, the first time JMU has been in single-digit giveaways since March 23, 2017 (9 vs. Villanova).

DOUBLE-DIGIT NOTES

Lexie Barrier reached double figures for the third straight game (14pts).
Kamiah Smalls has scored in double figures 17 of 18 games this season and 31 times out of her 51-game career.
Devon Merritt reached double figures for the second consecutive game, tying her season high of 10. This is the first stretch of back-to-back double-figure scoring performances in her career.

LIVING IN THE PAINT
The Dukes held a 20-6 lead in points-in-the-paint coming out of the first half, which they extended to a 28-16 advantage for the game.

BLOCKING THE LANE
For the eighth time in the last nine games, the Dukes denied at least six shots, finishing with seven blocks against the Seahawks. Devon Merritt had two blocks, her fifth performance of two or more in the last six games. Kayla Cooper-Williams joined her for game-high honors at two, pushing her career total 105, the ninth-highest total in JMU history.

AT THE LINE
JMU opened 9-for-11 at the free throw line and finished 14-for-19.

FOR CONSISTENCY'S SAKE
Senior Hailee Barron got her second straight start, making her 119th consecutive appearance for the Dukes, tied for the eighth-longest streak in JMU history with Emily McCracken ('92) and Nadine Morgan ('03). She needs to appear in the next five games to tie for the top five and six games to move into sole possession of third all-time.

UP NEXT
The Dukes head home for a weekend stretch against Hofstra and College of Charleston. They tip-off against the Pride on Friday night at 7 p.m. and against the Cougars on Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday's contest is the first of two Duke Dog Reading games this season.