Women’s Basketball Holds Off Georgia State, Improves to 17-0 in Sun Belt Conference Play

Wednesday, February 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

26-4,17-0Sun Belt

Georgia State

14-15,7-10Sun Belt

Georgia St.

James Madison

Women’s Basketball Holds Off Georgia State, Improves to 17-0 in Sun Belt Conference Play

2/26/2025 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison sank 16-of-18 (.889) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to pull away from Georgia State in an 80-74 victory on Wednesday night inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball action.

Trailing 62-60 with 5:22 remaining, Jamia Hazell went coast-to-coast and scored on a driving layup with contact, then converted on the and-one opportunity to give JMU the lead which they did not relinquish the rest of the way. Peyton McDaniel helped seal the deal in the final period, knocking down 8-of-10 (.800) from the charity stripe to tally 10 points. In total, the Dukes shot 29-for-35 (.829) from the line – the most free throw attempts and makes for the team this season.

With the win, the Dukes (26-4, 17-0 SBC) matched the program record for regular-season wins with the 2014-15 team which went 26-3 in the regular season with a 17-1 mark against the Colonial Athletic Association. Additionally, JMU's 13 home wins are the most by the program inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center and marks the most home wins for the Dukes since going 14-1 during the 2019-20 season – the last season played inside the Convocation Center.

At 17-0 in conference play, the Dukes are off to their best league start in program history. JMU is also the first Sun Belt team to begin league play 17-0 since Arkansas State started the 2015-16 season 18-0. Additionally, their 18 consecutive victories are the most under the direction of Head Coach Sean O'Regan and the most since posting a 20-game winning streak from Jan. 8 through March 12, 2016.

Kseniia Kozlova scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while connecting on 10-of-11 (.909) from the line after drawing nine fouls. McDaniel notched her 20th double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 11 boards. Ashanti Barnes registered 16 to go along with nine rebounds and three assists. Hazell recorded a season-high 16 points, 14 of which came in the second half.

Crystal Henderson (25) and Mikyla Tolivert (23) combined for 48 points, shooting 18-for-38 (.474) from the field. Henderson's scoring output was a career high and she dished out a team-best three assists. Kaleigh Addie also finished in double figures with 10 points, while Mya Williams notched nine points off the bench in the loss.

How It Happened
First Quarter – GSU 16, JMU 13

The Panthers jumped out to a 10-2 lead by the 6:28 mark, scoring five points off turnovers.
JMU held Georgia State without a field goal for the final 4:23 of the period.

Second Quarter – JMU 31, GSU 28

The Dukes went on a 9-0 run late in the second, not allowing Georgia State to score for 4:20, to take a 28-24 lead with 1:55 left.
GSU missed its last seven shots from the field, while Kozlova scored 12 of the Dukes' 18 points in the quarter.

Third Quarter – JMU 55, GSU 47

JMU produced a 7-0 scoring spurt to take a 47-36 lead at the media timeout.
Barnes knocked down a pair of threes for seven points in the frame.

Fourth Quarter – JMU 80, GSU 74

A turnaround jumper from Tolivert tied the game at 58-58 with 7:14 remaining in the game as part of an 11-0 GSU run.
Down 62-60, McDaniel (10) and Hazell (8) combined for 18 points in the final 4:27 to power the Dukes to an 80-74 win.

Game Notes

Seventeen conference victories tie for the most by the program with the 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2018-19 teams.
The victory also marked the 16th time in program history JMU has won at least 26 games.
JMU held an advantage in points in the paint (32-26), fast-break points (14-13) and second-chance points (10-8). Meanwhile, Georgia State led in points off turnovers (22-10) and bench points (10-7).
With her 114th career start, Jamia Hazell cracked the top 10 list in program history, tying with Kayla Cooper Williams (2015-2020).
McDaniel cruised to her 12th double-double of the 2024-25 season, her third straight and the 20th of her career, matching former teammate, Kiki Jefferson.
Kozlova is the first Duke to make 10 or more free throws in a single game since Kiki Jefferson went 13-for-17 (.765) versus Old Dominion on Feb. 18, 2023. Additionally, with a 22-point performance, the senior has registered 20 or more points for the seventh time this season.
Barnes surpassed the 500-rebound mark in her career with nine boards in Wednesday's contest, now sitting with a total of 502.
The Dukes have already captured the No. 1 seed heading into the Sun Belt Women's Basketball Championship and will begin tournament play in the semifinals on Sunday, March 9. JMU will face the winner of game nine at 12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT) inside the Pensacola Bay Center.