NORFOLK, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Bree Robinson registered a career-high 30 points – the most by a Duke this season – as James Madison overpowered Old Dominion, 87-53, in Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon inside Chartway Arena.
The Dukes (20-8, 11-4 Sun Belt) poured in 47 second-half points to hand Old Dominion (15-12, 6-8 Sun Belt) its worst loss to JMU (-34) in the NCAAW era (1981-Present). James Madison shot 47.8% (32-of-67) from the field, 51.7% (8-of-14) from three, and 88.2% (15-of-17) from the free throw line to capture its sixth straight win and 13 consecutive victories over the Monarchs.
In addition to Robinson’s scoring output, the guard finished with four steals to tally 71 on the season, placing her 10th in program history in steals in a single season. Peyton McDaniel totaled 16 points, knocking down 4-of-5 (.800) from three-point range. Grace McDonough posted another efficient game, hitting 6-of-8 (.750) for 13 points with five rebounds. Zakiya Stephenson produced nine points and four assists, while Ashanti Barnes led all players with five helpers in the win.
For Old Dominion, Kelsey Thompson (12) and Simone Cunningham (10) both finished in double figures. Cunningham and En’Dya Buford tied for the game-high in rebounds with six apiece. The Dukes forced Neveah Scott to commit seven turnovers in 24 minutes in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 24, ODU 15
• After the Monarchs scored the first two baskets, the Dukes hit four of their next four for a 12-7 advantage at the first media timeout.
• Robinson notched a dozen points on 6-of-7 (.857) from the field.
Second Quarter – JMU 40, ODU 29
• JMU went cold in the second, connecting on just one of its first 10 shots from the floor, but clung to a 29-27 edge with 3:20 to go.
• The Dukes closed the half on an 8-0 run over the final 1:20, highlighted by a McDaniel triple before the buzzer for a 40-29 JMU lead.
Third Quarter – JMU 66, ODU 44
• James Madison began to distance itself in the third, with a 7-0 run giving the Dukes a 61-39 advantage during a rough ODU shooting stretch.
• Eight Dukes scored in the frame, as the team committed just one turnover to go ahead 66-44.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 87, ODU 53
• The dominance continued as JMU utilized a 14-2 scoring spurt to make it 80-46 halfway through the fourth.
• ODU shot just 4-of-18 (.222) to close the game, scoring only nine total points in the final frame.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in points in the paint (48-30), fast-break points (25-6), and second-chance points (8-5).
• The Dukes 57.1% (8-of-14) clip from behind the arc was their best since posting the same numbers in an 85-79 win at ULM on Dec. 28, 2023.
• Robinson’s 30 points are the most by a Duke since McDaniel scored a career-high 33 at Southern Miss on Jan. 11, 2024.
• Additionally, Robinson is the first JMU player to score 30-plus points without hitting a three since Tarik Hislop finished 30 points (0-1 3PT) in a 63-58 victory over Wichita State in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 24, 2012.
• The Dukes have now won at least 20 games 19 times in the last 21 seasons.
• JMU has played four consecutive road games and won them all for the first time since the 2009-10 season, with wins at Austin Peay (83-56, Nov. 24), Western Carolina (80-63, Nov. 29), Liberty (60-50, Dec. 1), and Virginia (75-73, Dec. 6).
— JMU Athletics —
