EVANS LEADS JMU PAST NORTHEASTERN IN CAA OPENER 84-61

Sunday, January 2

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2:00 p.m.

James Madison University

8-5, 1-0

Northeastern

5-7, 0-1

Northeastern

James Madison

1/2/2011 8:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Jan. 2, 2011 - Senior guard Dawn Evans (Clarksville, Tenn./Northeast) scored 21 of her 31 points in the second half to lead the James Madison (8-5, 1-0 CAA) women's basketball team to an 84-61 victory over Northeastern (5-7, 0-1 CAA) in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams on Sunday at the JMU Convocation Center.

Evans tallied her 22nd career 30-point game on 13-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Redshirt junior forward Lauren Whitehurst (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore guard Tarik Hislop (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) added 12 points. Sophomore guard/forward Nikki Newman (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby) finished with 10 rebounds.

"Overall we were pleased with the win," said JMU Head Coach Kenny Brooks. "I thought we played well in stretches and had some breakdowns that let them do some things they were good at.

"I almost scratched Dawn before the game. She (told me) 'My energy is really low today.' The way she played, the way she shot the ball, the way she handled their pressure, and the fact that she was low energy made it seem even more remarkable. I thought she had unbelievable rhythm, (hitting) step-back shots, pull-up shots, driving to the basket."

The Dukes jumped out to the early 12-0 lead in the first four minutes behind Whitehurst, who scored eight of her 12 first-half points during that run. Down 22-14 with 9:40 to play until halftime, the Huskies scored eight of the game's next 10 points to get to within two at 24-22. JMU took a 37-30 advantage into the locker room while shooting 40-percent from the floor.

In the second half, JMU stretched its lead to 57-37 with just under 13 minutes remaining and never allowed Northeastern to get closer than 12 points to seal the CAA victory. The Dukes shot better than 60 percent from the field in the second half and was 80-percent from three-point land.

The Dukes shot 49.2 percent (30-61) for the game, while limiting NU to just under 36-percent (23-64). After not converting one three-pointer in the first half, JMU went 8-of-10 in the second half from long range to finish 61.5 percent (8-13) for the game. Both teams tallied 39 rebounds, but NU held a 14-7 advantage on the offensive glass.

Northeastern was led by junior guard Kashaia Cannon, who scored a team-high 17 points. Junior guard Jamie Conroy scored 13 points, and sophomore forward Christine Huber had 11 points.

JMU continues conference play Thursday evening when traveling to Williamsburg, Va., to take on William and Mary. Northeastern hosts Delaware on Thursday.