JMU Opens Three-Game Road Swing Friday at Hofstra

Friday, February 6

Hempstead, N.Y.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Hofstra

2/3/2015 10:54:00 AM | Women's Basketball

2014-15 JMU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
GAME #21

18-2 (9-0 CAA)
Game Notes

James Madison at Hofstra
Mack Sports Complex - Hempstead, N.Y.
Friday, February 6, 2015 – 7 p.m.

Live Stats | Live Audio
Live Video | Tickets

Twitter: @JMUWBasketball, #JMUDukes

13-8 (6-4 CAA)

Game Plan

Halfway through Colonial Athletic Association action, JMU is the lone unbeaten team in conference action and looks to extend that run Friday night against Hofstra at the Mack Athletic Complex at 7 p.m.
Live audio for the contest will be available through the nTelos Wireless Network on WHBG 1360 AM locally in Harrisonburg, Va., as well as online at JMUSports.com/MadiZONE.
A free, live video broadcast of the game can be found on MadiZONE HD SportsNet, presented by the JMU Alumni Association. The broadcast will be produced by Hofstra and Pride Productions, but can be found by visiting JMUSports.com/MadiZONE, or by clicking here.

Scouting Report

Coming off a 29-point victory at home over conference newcomer Elon, JMU opens its last lengthy road trip of the season with its first of two meetings this season against Hofstra. The Dukes have won the last six matchups with the Pride, winning each by an average of 21.5 points. The last time these two met, JMU took a 78-47 win at the Convo. The 31-point victory is the largest in series history.
After three weeks without receiving votes, JMU is back on the AP poll list with four points, tied for 33rd-most in the nation. The Dukes are also receiving 42 points in the USA Today Coaches Poll, just outside of the top 25 in 26th place. Syracuse is No. 25 this week with 47 points.
Last time out in the 89-60 win over Elon, Madison saw four different players score in double figures. Junior guard Precious Hall led the way with 18 points while redshirt-senior center Lauren Okafor recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Ashley Perez finished with 15 points in the winning effort while junior guard Jazmon Gwathmey chipped in 14 points.
In conference play, JMU is averaging 72.8 points per game while only giving up 53.2 points per contest. The two figures add up to a winning margin of 19.5 points. Elon is the second-highest scoring team in conference action, averaging 64.1 points per game while allowing 62.2 points a contest. JMU's average point margin is far and away the CAA leader, as Hofstra checks in at No. 2 with a +4.9 margin. Though only outrebounding Elon 44-42 in the contest, the game was won in the turnover battle, as Elon coughed up 27 turnovers to JMU's 14.
With 66 made three-pointers this season, Hall ranks third in the nation in averaging 3.3 makes from range per contest. Iowa's Melissa Dixon leads the nation in averaging 3.95 made three-pointers per game. With an average of 21.0 points per game, Hall checks in at No. 19 in the country. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell leads all of women's college basketball in averaging 26.0 points per contest. Hall's 1,240 career points also rank 14th amongst active Division I players.
Averaging 7.6 assists per game, junior guard Angela Mickens sits fourth in the country in the category. Niya Johnson of Baylor leads the nation with 8.8 assists per game.
In three different categories, Okafor ranks in the top 30. On the boards, she is averaging five offensive rebounds per contest, which is good for seventh in the nation, while averaging 10.5 rebounds per game and a 57.2 shooting percentage from the floor. Those marks put her 28th in rebounds and 13th in shooting percentage nationally.
Hofstra is led by Kelly Loftus, who is averaging 12.0 points per contest this season. She is closely followed by Ashunae Durant and Elo Edeferioka, who each average double figures with 11.2 and 10.5 points, respectively.
JMU and Hofstra are the top two field goal percentage defense teams in the CAA, as JMU is allowing its opponents to hit 36.6 percent of its shots while Hofstra is only allowing opponents a 36.7 percent clip from the floor. The Dukes average 41.1 percent on the offensive end while Hofstra averages 39.1 percent from the floor on offense.