Dukes Surge Past Charleston 74-60 on Senior Night

Wednesday, March 1

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

22-7, 15-3CAA

College of Charleston

9-20, 6-12CAA

Col. of Charleston

JMU

3/1/2017 10:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score @JMUWBasketball Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Playing in her final regular-season home game, senior guard Precious Hall scored 23 of her game-high 25 points in the second half to lead James Madison to a 74-60 come-from-behind victory against the College of Charleston in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball on Wednesday night at the JMU Convocation Center.

The Dukes improved to 22-7 overall and 15-3 in CAA play to clinch the No. 2 seed for next week's CAA Women's Basketball Championship, which takes place March 8-11 at JMU. The Cougars, who will be the No. 10 seed, fell to 9-20 and 6-12. JMU plays the winner of No. 7 UNCW and No. 10 Charleston in the CAA quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9 at 5 p.m.

Hall produced the 45th 20-point game of her career due in large part to improved shooting in the second half. After scoring just two points in the first 20 minutes, she shot 8-of-19 from the floor, hit a pair of threes and converted 5-of-6 free throws over the final two quarters to finish with 25.

Sophomore forward Savannah Felgemacher turned in her second career double-double with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Three others scored nine points each. Freshman guard Lexie Barrier added three steals and three assists. Sophomore guard Logan Reynolds tied her career high with seven assists, while junior guard Haille Barron dished out five assists.

JMU shot 44 percent (29-66) from the floor while holding Charleston to just 35 percent (20-57) shooting. The Dukes held a 42-36 rebounding advantage , including 17-13 on the offensive glass. JMU outscored the Cougars 46-22 in the paint, 23-18 off turnovers and 19-10 on second-chance opportunities. JMU had 18 assists, which was just one off its season-best total.

The Cougars were led by Tanisha Brown, who had a double-double with 20 points and a game-best 12 rebounds. Dajah Logan also contributed 13 points and six rebounds.

Trailing 37-29 midway through the third quarter, freshman guard Kamiah Smalls knocked down a 3-pointer to spark a 14-5 run to give JMU a 43-42 lead, its first advantage since the closing seconds of the first quarter. The Dukes closed the final 51 seconds of the frame with seven straight to grab a 50-44 lead heading into the fourth.

JMU's surge continued into the fourth quarter, as a 10-2 run that spanned 2:21 extended its lead to 64-48 with 4:55 to play. Overall it was a 21-4 charge to give JMU the lead. The Cougars never drew closer than 14 down the stretch, and the Dukes led by as many as 18 points on three separate occasions. JMU shot an impressive 63 percent (10-16) from the floor in the fourth to complete the comeback.

PHOTO OF THE GAME - view full photo gallery

Precious Hall Hugs Coach O'Regan during her Senior Night recognition.

HALL'S BIG SECOND HALF
After scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in the first half, Precious Hall found her rhythm late in the third quarter. Though 23 of her 25 points came in the second half, 21 of those points occurred in her final 11-and-a-half minutes on the floor. During that stretch, JMU went from being down five points to up 16.

SHARING THE BALL
JMU produced 18 assists on 29 field goals, with 12 coming from a pair of guards. Logan Reynolds matched her career high with seven assists, while Hailee Barron dished out five assists. It was the seventh time this season Reynolds had five or more dimes, and the third time Barron had five or more. The 18 assists were the most by the Dukes at home this season and were one shy of the 19 they had at Hofstra on Feb. 3.

THANK YOU JMU NATION!
A total of 2,319 fans were in attendance tonight at the JMU Convocation Center for JMU's comeback win in the regular-season finale. The Dukes have now had 52 straight home games with at least 2,000 spectators.

CAA SEEDS SET
JMU earned the No. 2 seed for the CAA Championship, as all 10 seeds are determined for the tournament, which takes place March 8-11 at the JMU Convocation Center.

1. Elon
2. James Madison
3. Drexel
4. William & Mary
5. Delaware
6. Northeastern
7. UNCW
8. Towson
9. Hofstra
10. College of Charleston

UP NEXT
The second-seeded Dukes face the winner of No. 7 UNCW and No. 10 College of Charleston Thursday at 5 p.m. in the CAA quarterfinals.