Dukes Stumble at Liberty

Friday, December 1

Lynchburg, Va.

12 p.m.

James Madison University

5-3,0-0Sun Belt

Liberty

3-5,0-0CUSA

James Madison

Liberty

12/1/2023 2:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

LYNCHBURG, Va. – James Madison women's basketball committed 16 turnovers which Liberty turned into 18 points, as the Dukes fell to the Lady Flames 67-53 on Friday afternoon inside Liberty Arena.

JMU (5-3) dominated on the glass (51-31), but LU (3-5) took advantage of the Dukes' miscues while turning over the ball just seven times. Additionally, James Madison wrangled in 22 offensive rebounds but did not record any second chance points.

Junior Ashanti Barnes was the lone JMU player to score in double figures with 12 off the bench, to go along with six boards and a pair of assists. Redshirt junior Kseniia Kozlova chipped in with eight points and five rebounds, while redshirt sophomore Peyton McDaniel pulled down a team-best seven boards. Redshirt junior Steph Ouderkirk registered four assists in the loss.

The Liberty attack was spearheaded by Emma Hess (18), Bella Smuda (18) and Asia Boone (17). Hess and Boone both knocked down three triples in the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

JMU opened strong, hitting 5-of-7 (.714) from the floor to lead 12-4 at the 5:59 mark.
The Dukes built a 14-4 advantage before the Lady Flames responded with an 11-0 run in the final 3:46 for a 15-14 edge after one.
James Madison missed its last 11 field goals and was one of its last 14.

Second Quarter

Barnes broke the cold stretch with a straight-on triple as the Dukes trailed 19-17 early in the period.
LU's Brooke Moore scored a layup to put the Lady Flames up 24-17 at the media timeout.
The Dukes fought back to trail by one, 27-26, with a triple from sophomore Chloe Sterling.
Liberty converted on an and-one to take a 30-26 lead heading into the locker room. Despite trailing, the Dukes owned a 34-15 advantage in rebounds.

Third Quarter

A McDaniel layup cut the deficit to two, 34-32, but the Lady Flames rattled off an 8-0 run in 1:11 to force a JMU timeout.
LU maintained a cushion, holding a 48-40 advantage with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter

Liberty's lead grew to 13 (57-44) at the 6:59 mark, highlighted by two physical layups from Bella Smuda.
The Lady Flames controlled the pace of play the rest of the way for a comfortable 67-53 win.

GAME NOTES

James Madison still leads in the all-time series, 14-4.
JMU held an advantage in bench points (27-5), but LU had the upper hand in points off turnovers (18-7) and points in the paint (24-22).
The Dukes have recorded 50+ rebounds three times this season, having pulled down 71 against Eastern Mennonite (Nov. 6) and 58 versus Longwood (Nov. 15).
James Madison took only four shots at the free throw line (3-4), compared to 11 for the Lady Flames (10-11).
Barnes' 12 points tied her Division I career high.
Coming into the game, the Dukes had defeated every Division I team in Virginia in their last meeting.

UP NEXT
James Madison will return to the Atlantic Union Bank Center for double-header action, hosting Wake Forest on Sunday, Dec. 3. Tip time is scheduled for 4 p.m., while the men's team plays Keystone College at 1 p.m.