Women's Basketball Escapes Wake Forest, 55-53

Sunday, December 3

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

6-3,0-0Sun Belt

Wake Forest

2-6,0-0ACC

Wake Forest

James Madison

12/3/2023 8:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison trailed 53-51 with 1:02 remaining before Jamia Hazell and Chloe Sterling made crucial shots from the field and at the free throw line to give the Dukes a 55-53 win inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Demon Deacons (2-6) dominated the paint (28-18), but JMU (6-3) held Wake to 5-of-20 (.250) from three-point range.

Redshirt junior Steph Ouderkirk recorded 14 points and a season-high nine rebounds, pacing the Dukes in both categories. Sterling tied her career-high of 10 points off the bench and grabbed a pair of boards. Redshirt junior Kseniia Kozlova also registered 10 points while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out a team-best three assists.

Elise Williams was the lone Deacon with double figures in scoring with 13 to go along with eight boards, while Kaia Harrison and Madisyn Jordan chipped in with nine points apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

Wake Forest led 8-5 at the first media timeout, with Ouderkirk esponsible for all of JMU's points.
Graduate student Carole Miller was the only other Duke to score in the period, resulting in a 15-9 advantage for the Demon Deacons after 10.

Second Quarter

Wake sank two free throws to make it 17-9 at the 8:29 mark.
Redshirt sophomore Peyton McDaniel nailed a triple to spark the Dukes' offense, which cut the deficit to three (19-16) halfway through the frame.
Hazell grabbed a rebound and took it the length of the court to give James Madison a 20-19 edge with 2:15 to play in the half.
The Demon Deacons regained control, but Sterling knocked down a three-pointer in the waning seconds as the Dukes trailed 24-23 at the break.

Third Quarter

The JMU offense built a 34-28 advantage at the 5:15 mark, highlighted by a tough layup from redshirt junior Annalicia Goodman.
Ouderkirk connected on a fadeaway jumper with four ticks left to give the Dukes a 40-36 cushion heading into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter

James Madison held Wake Forest scoreless until the 6:16 mark when it hit a three-pointer followed by a jumper on the ensuing possession to trail 49-41.
A JMU 4:55 scoring drought and 15-0 run over 4:01 for Demon Deacons gave them the lead back with 2:15 remaining in the game (51-49).
Kozlova made a layup to tie the game at 51 with 1:50 to play, but Wake answered with a jumper by Harrison moments later.
Hazell then scored a physical layup with 1:02 to play to tie the game at 53.
Sterling got to the line and made one of two free throws to give the Dukes a 54-53 edge with 23 seconds remaining.
A missed Wake Forest jumper by Williams went in and out to give JMU possession and to maintain a one-point lead with 2.5 seconds left in the game.
Hazell split a pair of shots from the charity stripe with 1.5 seconds left.
On the ensuing play, McDaniel intercepted inbound to seal the deal.

GAME NOTES

James Madison leads the all-time series against Wake Forest, 7-5.
The victory was JMU's first over an ACC team since 2021, when the Dukes took down Virginia 84-69 on Nov. 5.
JMU won the rebounding battle (40-34) and the turnover battle (14-12), while the Demon Deacons' bench edged the Dukes' (19-16).
Twelve turnovers ties a season-low for James Madison against a Division I opponent. JMU previously turned the ball over 12 times versus VCU on Nov. 19.
Sterling's 10 points is her best scoring output against a Division I opponent. The sophomore scored 10 in the season opener against Eastern Mennonite (DIII) on Nov. 6.
James Madison led by as much as 13, pulling ahead 49-36 with 7:10 remaining in the contest.

UP NEXT
James Madison welcomes William & Mary on Thursday, Dec. 7 for the Dukes' final home game of the non-conference slate. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.