Second-Half Push Lifts Dukes Over Old Dominion, 68-54

Saturday, December 31

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

12-2,2-0Sun Belt

Old Dominion

8-7,0-2Sun Belt

Old Dominion

James Madison

12/31/2022 6:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Down 34-30 at halftime, James Madison outscored Old Dominion 21-6 in the third quarter and cruised to a 68-54 Saturday afternoon inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

JMU improves to 12-2 for the first time since 2014-15 and has won nine consecutive games for the first time since 2019-20. ODU will look to get back in the W column as they host ULM on Jan. 5.

Junior Kseniia Kozlova led the charge with a career-high 24 points on an efficient 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the field. Senior Kiki Jefferson finished with 19 points and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Junior Peyton McDaniel was dangerous from beyond the arc, knocking down 3-of-7 (42.9%), and chipping in with 15 points. Jefferson pulled down nine rebounds, while Kozlova had a career-high three steals and a block.

How It Happened

McDaniel and Kozlova combined for 17 points in the opening frame to give the Dukes a 20-13 lead after one.
Old Dominion started the second quarter on a 6-0 run to make it 20-19 at the 7:56 mark. The Monarchs then took a 25-24 lead with 4:37 remaining in the first half.
JMU was stifled for the majority of the period, not recording a basket in the final 5:48 and going 2-for-14 (14.3%). ODU went into the break with a 34-30 lead.
The Dukes exploded in the third quarter with a 14-2 sprint to open the half, six courtesy of Kozlova.
After making just one three-pointer as a team in the first half, McDaniel and junior Steph Ouderkirk both knocked down deep shots. Kozlova also shot 4-of-5 (80.0%) from the floor to give the Dukes a 51-40 advantage with one quarter to go.
Both teams traded baskets at the beginning of the fourth, however, James Madison managed to build a 16-point advantage (68-52) with 0:46 remaining.
Jefferson and Kozlova teamed up for 12 points in the final quarter as the Dukes went on to win 68-54.

Game Notes

James Madison trails in the all-time series 26-53. Additionally, it has won six straight and eight of the last 10 meetings.
JMU Athletics holds a 6.5-2.5 edge in Old Dominion as part of the Royal Rivalry sponsored by TowneBank. Fans can check out the standings here.
Kozlova outright led the team in scoring for the second time in 2022-23. Moreover, 10 makes from the field is the most by any Duke this season.
Graduate student Caroline Germond dished out four assists against the Monarchs. She has recorded at least three assists in seven consecutive outings.
Jefferson also shared the ball efficiently with five dimes, her sixth game with at least five assists in her senior campaign.
The Dukes won the rebounding battle 42-29. The team wrangled in 40+ rebounds for the 10th time in 2022-23 and had a rebounding margin of +10.0 or better for the sixth time.
James Madison went 18-for-19 (94.7%) from the charity stripe, the best clip from the line this season. Moreover, Jefferson was 11-for-11, the second time in the 2022-23 campaign in which she has made 10-plus free throws.
Jefferson is now 11th on the all-time scoring list in program history at 1,474, passing Sue Manelski (1465 pts from 1981-85) and Alisa Harris (1473 pts, 84-89). Former Duke Shanna Price (1999-03) is 10th on the list with 1,496.
JMU shot 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point land, the second-lowest number of makes for the team this season.
Coming into the game, the Dukes had only trailed two other times in 2022-23: at VCU (33-26, Dec. 1) and against Maryland Eastern Shore (37-30, Dec. 4).

Up Next
The Dukes will kick off the new year with a road contest at Marshall on Thursday, Jan. 5. The game is set for 6 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.