Barnes Gains National Recognition With USBWA National Player of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Following two standout performances to close the regular season, James Madison forward Ashanti Barnes was named one of five Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week honorees by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

For the period through Sunday, March 1, the five selections were headlined by Barnes, alongside Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, BYU guard Delaney Gibb, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, and South Dakota State forward Brooklyn Meyer.

The All-Sun Belt Second Team selection is the first JMU player to earn the national weekly accolade, and the second Sun Belt player to be honored this season, joining Marshall guard Timaya-Lewis Eutsey (Feb. 10).

Barnes averaged a double-double of 24.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game to help the Dukes pick up wins over Old Dominion (77-55 – Feb. 25) and Coastal Carolina (72-56 – Feb. 27) as JMU extended its winning streak to nine games, including eight straight against Sun Belt Conference opponents.

On Senior Day against the Chanticleers, the All-Sun Belt Defensive Team member finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and three steals to be named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week. According to available data, Barnes is the second player in Division I women's basketball history to achieve the stat line, joining Emily Schill of San Jose State, who registered 36 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a103-80 win over Utah State on Jan. 12, 2013.

Barnes and the Dukes wrapped up the regular season with a 23-8 record and 14-4 mark in conference play to earn byes directly to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Women's Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve.

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