Women’s Basketball Prevails in Overtime Versus Louisiana, 77-72

Saturday, January 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

11-4,3-0Sun Belt

Louisiana

5-7,1-2Sun Belt

OT 1

Louisiana

James Madison

Women’s Basketball Prevails in Overtime Versus Louisiana, 77-72

1/6/2024 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Kseniia Kozlova scored 20 points to help push James Madison past Louisiana in overtime, 77-72, inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Sun Belt Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

JMU (11-4, 3-0 SBC) did not allow the Ragin' Cajuns (5-7, 1-2 SBC) to score in the final 3:30 of regulation to force overtime. The Dukes dominated the extra period and took their biggest lead of the game, 76-64, with 25.8 seconds to go.

Kozlova shot an efficient 8-of-10 (.800) from the field, 4-for-4 from the line, and led all players with nine rebounds. Redshirt junior Jamia Hazell added 17 points, five of which came in overtime, to go along with seven rebounds and a season-best five assists. Graduate student Carole Miller contributed off the bench with 11 points, highlighted by going a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. Redshirt sophomore Peyton McDaniel knocked down a pair of three-pointers for 10 points.

Louisiana's Brandi Williams registered 20 points and connected on four triples. Jayln James and Tamera Johnson scored 12 and 10, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

Louisiana opened with a 7-2 run just over two minutes into the contest.
The Dukes answered with balanced scoring to tie the game 12-all at the media timeout.
JMU led 16-14 before the Cajuns wrapped up the quarter on a 6-1 run for a 20-17 lead.
Kozlova paced the Dukes with eight points on 3-of-4 (.750) from the floor.

Second Quarter

James Madison made it 22-22 at the 7:47 mark with a baseline runner from Miller.
Louisiana held the Dukes scoreless for the next 4:47 for a 29-22 advantage.
Junior Mikaya Tynes provided a spark off the bench with four points to get JMU within one (29-28) with just over two minutes to go.
With the game clock winding down, Hazell was left alone for a three-pointer to tie the game at 33 heading into halftime.

Third Quarter

The Dukes started on a 9-2 run, capped off by a long ball from McDaniel to give JMU a 42-35 lead.
James Madison's lead grew to eight (47-39) with 3:15 remaining in the period.
UL fought back to trail 49-46 after three.

Fourth Quarter

Miller kick-started the final period with a pair of threes to give JMU a 55-48 cushion.
The Cajuns battled to the free-throw line, finding themselves down 57-56 at the media timeout.
Brandi Williams gave Louisiana a two-point edge (61-59) with 3:30 to play.
UL's 61-59 lead would hold until Hazell scored a driving layup with 52 seconds to go.
Both defenses would hold strong to force overtime.

Overtime

The Dukes jumped ahead with a 7-0 spurt, highlighted by an and-one play from McDaniel.
JMU continued to draw fouls and cashed in at the line to take a 76-64 lead with 25.8 seconds remaining.
UL responded by going on an 8-1 to close the game, but JMU held on for the 77-72 victory.

GAME NOTES

JMU moved to 3-0 in the all-time series versus Louisiana, including 2-0 as Sun Belt Conference foes.
The Dukes edged the Cajuns in points in the paint (32-26), bench points (27-26) and second chance points (15-12).
The win marked JMU's sixth triumph in a row at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in 2023-24. Since moving into the arena in 2020-21, the Dukes hold a 34-15 (.693) record. Additionally, the Dukes start conference play 3-0 for the second consecutive season – starting 6-0 in 202-23 as part of a 13-game win streak.
This was the Dukes' first overtime game since taking down Old Dominion last season, 73-68, in Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 18.
Kozlova has reached the 20-point plateau for the third time this season and the fifth time in her career.
James Madison out-rebounded Louisiana 34-31 – the 14th time in 15 contests JMU has won the rebounding battle.
Miller knocked down a trio of threes for the second time this season. Earlier in the 2023-24 campaign, the graduate student went 3-of-4 (.750) for 14 points against Longwood on Nov. 15.
James Madison led for 2:13 in the first half.

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road for a two-game road swing with contests at Southern Miss (Jan. 11 - 7 p.m. ET) and Troy (Jan. 13 - 3 p.m. ET). Both games will stream on ESPN+.