McDaniel Scores Career High, Leads JMU to 81-76 Triumph at Southern Miss

Thursday, January 11

Hattiesburg, Miss.

7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

12-4,4-0Sun Belt

Southern Miss

7-7,0-4Sun Belt

James Madison

Southern Miss.

McDaniel Scores Career High, Leads JMU to 81-76 Triumph at Southern Miss

1/11/2024 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Peyton McDaniel recorded a career-high 33 points on 13-of-18 (.722) from the field as James Madison women's basketball outlasted Southern Miss, 81-76, inside the Reed Green Coliseum on Thursday night.

JMU (12-4, 4-0 SBC) remains unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play after outshooting the Lady Eagles (7-7, 0-4 SBC, .508 (30-59) to .444 (28-63).

McDaniel knocked down 4-of-8 (.500) from three and came away with two steals. Redshirt junior Jamia Hazell (12), senior Hevynne Bristow (11) and redshirt junior Annalicia Goodman (10) each scored in double figures. Bristow tied her career high in points (11) and assists (3), while her nine rebounds set a personal best. Redshirt junior Olivia Mullins led all players with five assists, while junior Ashanti Barnes rejected a career-high three shots and grabbed seven boards.

Domonique Davis finished with 33 points and three assists. Melyia Grayson chipped in with 18 points on 6-of-11 (.545) and six rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First

The Dukes held a 7-6 edge at the first media timeout, with Hazell responsible for four points.
Southern Miss took a 13-9 lead with 2:16 left in the frame before an acrobatic jumper from sophomore Chloe Sterling and a layup from Bristow evened the game at 14.
The teams were knotted at 16 at the end of the quarter.

Second

The Lady Eagles scored a fast-break layup for a 24-21 advantage at the 6:36 mark.
JMU answered with a 5-0 run to take a 26-24 lead less than one minute later.
Davis connected on a triple at the buzzer to cut Southern Miss's deficit to one, 34-33, heading into halftime.
McDaniel shot 4-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from the line for 10 points in the period.

Third

The Dukes went ahead 42-37 with a second chance layup from Goodman early in the period.
Southern Miss responded with an 8-0 run to force a JMU timeout at the 6:06 mark.
The Lady Eagles' lead grew to five, 49-44, at the media timeout.
James Madison held Southern Miss without a made field goal for the final 2:34 for a 57-55 edge at the break.

Fourth

The Lady Eagles went on a 6-0 run early in the period to go ahead 64-61 with 7:04 remaining.
The Dukes trailed 67-65 at the media timeout.
JMU stormed back to take a five-point lead, 72-67, highlighted by a straight-on three from Sterling.
Bristow made 2-of-2 from the line as the Dukes took their biggest lead of the game, 78-69, with 37 seconds left.

GAME NOTES

Head Coach Sean O'Regan earned his 100th career win and boasts a 100-27 (.787) record against league opponents.
James Madison leads Southern Miss in the all-time series, 2-0.
The Dukes held an advantage over the Lady Eagles in points in the paint (38-36), bench points (34-9), and fast break points (21-16).
There were 17 lead changes and 10 times the game was tied.
JMU's .508 field goal percentage is the program's third-best in 2023-24, and second-best against a Division I opponent.
The Dukes won the rebounding battle, 38-32, the 14th time in 15 contests the Dukes have won the rebounding battle this season.
JMU committed 12 turnovers and just four in the second half.
James Madison has won four consecutive games and seven of its last eight.
The Dukes won the turnover battle for the third time this season, 12-14.

UP NEXT
The Dukes remain on the road to face Troy on Saturday, Jan. 13. Action inside Trojan Arena is slated for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) and will stream on ESPN+.