JMU Closes Strong in Home Opener - James Madison University Athletics

Thursday, November 5

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

1-1,0-0Sun Belt

Central Connecticut State

0-2,0-0NEC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Central Conn. St.	8	10	13	7	38
James Madison	18	14	19	26	77

Game Book Coach O Press Conference Player Press Conference

Women's basketball takes group photo at center court after defeating Central Connecticut State at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

11/5/2026 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Player Press Conference Coach O Press Conference Game Book Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's basketball outscored Central Connecticut State 36-7 over the final 13 minutes for a 77-38 home-opening victory inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Thursday night.

The Dukes (1-1) poured in 40 points in the paint and scored 27 points off the Blue Devils' (0-2) 23 turnovers. JMU heated up in the second half, shooting 54.5% (18-of-33) from the field compared to 25.0% (5-of-20) for CCSU.

Four Dukes finished in double figures, led by Zakiya Stephenson with 13, followed by Bree Robinson (10), Maddie Leach (10), and Ja'Quoia Jones-Brown (10). Stephenson knocked 3-of-6 (.500) from three and dished out four assists with one turnover. Leach made 4-of-8 (.500) from the field in just under 25 minutes off the bench and recorded the first block of her collegiate career.

Jones-Brown hit a pair of threes and posted a game-high three steals. Delilah Soltys tied her career high in assists (4) and recorded a personal-best two blocks. Soltys and Trinity Moore tied for the team lead with six rebounds each.

For CCSU, Jillian Dingler led the offense with nine points, while Liana Salamone scored eight and grabbed a team-best six boards off the bench.

Up next, the Dukes head down I-81 to face Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 8. Tip time inside Cassell Coliseum is slated for 6 p.m., and will stream on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 18, CCSU 8

After the Blue Devils scored the opening basket, the Dukes rattled off a 16-0 run over the next four minutes.
CCSU closed the opening frame on a 5-0 scoring spurt, all coming from Liana Salamone.

Second Quarter – JMU 32, CCSU 18

JMU got back on track with an 8-0 run out of the break, kickstarted by a three-pointer by Moore.
The Blue Devils responded with seven unanswered points and limited the Dukes to just one field goal for the final 4:37.

Third Quarter – JMU 51, CCSU 31

After trading baskets most of the quarter, JMU turned it on late, registering a 10-0 run to end the third.
The Dukes connected on 9-of-9 from the charity stripe.

Fourth Quarter – JMU 77, CCSU 38

JMU outscored the Blue Devils 26-7, not allowing CCSU to make a basket for the final 8:08.
The Dukes shot 60.0% (12-of-20) from the field and committed just one turnover.

Game Notes

JMU held an advantage in points in the paint (40-12), bench points (35-24), points off turnovers (27-8), fast break points (14-3), and second chance points (14-8).
The Dukes held Central Connecticut to just three assists. The last time James Madison limited an opponent to three or fewer helpers was in 2025 when Coastal Carolina produced two in a 76-69 JMU victory on Jan. 26.
James Madison finished with eight turnovers, its fewest since having seven in an 83-72 win at Southern Miss on Feb. 4, 2026.
The Dukes' +15 mark in the turnover margin (23-8) is the program's best since also recording a +15 advantage in a 92-50 victory versus Hofstra on Jan. 24, 2020.