Dukes Down Monarchs, Improve to 14-0 in Sun Belt Conference Play

Saturday, February 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

23-4,14-0Sun Belt

Old Dominion

14-13,6-8Sun Belt

Old Dominion

James Madison

Dukes Down Monarchs, Improve to 14-0 in Sun Belt Conference Play

2/15/2025 6:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's basketball held Old Dominion to 26.0 percent (19-of-73) from the field and 20.7 percent (6-of-29)from three as the Dukes powered past the Monarchs 66-53 on Saturday afternoon in front of 4,375 fans – the largest crowd at a women's basketball game in the history of the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

JMU (23-4, 14-0 SBC) is off to a 14-0 start in conference play for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign when the Dukes also began league play 14-0. Additionally, the Dukes' 15 consecutive victories are the most under the direction of Head Coach Sean O'Regan and is the program's longest streak since posting a 20-game winning streak from Jan. 8 through March 12, 2016. JMU is also the first Sun Belt team to start 14-0 in league play since Arkansas State began the 2015-16 season 18-0.

The Dukes shot 50.0 percent (24-of-48) from the field and poured in 38 paint points for their 12th consecutive victory over ODU (14-13, 6-8 SBC). JMU locked in late defensively, not allowing the Monarchs to make a field goal in the final 3:31.

Peyton McDaniel led all scorers with 23 points, connecting on an efficient 7-of-14 (.500) from the field to go along with five rebounds. Ashanti Barnes pulled down a career-high 16 boards and tied her season-high of two blocks. Kseniia Kozlova finished with 11 points and six rebounds, while Ro Scott added 11 points and a block off the bench.

Jamia Hazell scored six points on 3-of-4 (.750) from the floor in her 148th game, becoming the program's all-time leader in career games played.

For Old Dominion, Simone Cunningham registered a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds with four assists. Simaru Fields knocked down 4-of-11 (.364) from deep for 15 points and recorded four steals, while En'Dya Buford notched 10 points and a game-best five assists in the loss.

How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 16, ODU 16

The Dukes opened with a 5-0 lead, but the Monarchs fought back and tied the game at 16-all with a second-chance layup from Cunningham with six seconds left in the quarter.

Second Quarter – JMU 31, ODU 22

After falling behind 17-16 at the 9:14 mark, the Dukes responded with an 8-0 run for a 24-17 lead at the media timeout.
McDaniel added six points, while Barnes grabbed six boards in the frame.
ODU finished 2-of-21 (.095) from the field in the frame and 0-for-8 from behind the arc.

Third Quarter – JMU 48, ODU 37

McDaniel exploded in the third with 14 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line to grow the Dukes' lead to 11.

Fourth Quarter – JMU 66, ODU 53

JMU shot 7-for-9 (.778) from the field, making four of its final five. Meanwhile, Old Dominion went 4-for-14 (.286) and turned the ball over three times in the final five minutes.

Game Notes

James Madison has won 12 straight against Old Dominion, which includes seven contests since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.
JMU held an advantage in total rebounds (46-39), points in the paint (38-22) and fast-break points (6-3).
Old Dominion wrangled in 23 offensive rebounds for 19 second-chance points – the most offensive rebounds by a JMU opponent this season.
Barnes' 16 boards are the most by a Duke since Jaylin Carodine came away with 17 versus Delaware on March 5, 2022.
With the win, JMU moves its lead in this year's TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge to 8-3 over Old Dominion. JMU has now won all 14 meetings in men's and women's basketball since the two joined the Sun Belt in 2022.