Smalls' 30 Point Performance Pushes JMU Past Liberty

Thursday, November 29

Lynchburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

5-1

Liberty

1-6

James Madison

Liberty

11/29/2018 9:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Behind 30 points from Kamiah Smalls, James Madison women's basketball picked up its fifth victory of the season with a 74-53 win over Liberty. The Dukes are 5-1 to start the season for their best start since going 6-0 in 2009-10.

FIRST QUARTER

Kamiah Smalls started the game with all eight points for JMU (5-1)
The Dukes went on an 8-0 run to take a 14-5 lead where they held the Flames (1-6) scoreless for 4:06
Jackie Benitez came off the bench and hit back-to-back treys
Liberty was held without a field goal for almost four minutes in the closing end of the frame
It was the seventh time this season holding an opponent to 10 points or less in a quarter
JMU did not take any free throws in the opening frame

SECOND QUARTER

Liberty started the second quarter strong bringing the Dukes' lead to just five, 20-15
Smalls scored her 10^th point of the game, which marked the eighth consecutive game scoring 10 or more dating back to last season
JMU went on a 6-0 run to jump ahead and lead the Flames 34-19
The Dukes went five-for-five from behind the arc in the frame
At the half, JMU was shooting 50-percent on the game, 70-percent from behind the arc
At the half, Liberty was shooting 26.7-percent and 12.5-percent from three as the Flames made just one from deep.
JMU led 38-23 heading into the locker room

THIRD QUARTER

Smalls scored her 20th point which became the sixth time in career scoring 20 points or more in a game
Benitez scored her 10^th point of the game. It marked her fifth-straight game scoring 10 or more points
JMU forced six turnovers in the frame
The Flames held the Dukes scoreless for almost three minutes but the Dukes remained in the lead
JMU made five of its last seven in the frame to lead 57-40 after three quarters played
Smalls set a new career-high 27 points in the frame

FOURTH QUARTER

JMU went on a 7-0 run that put the Dukes ahead 69-45
The Dukes were held without a field goal for part of the frame but hit seven from the charity stripe during that time
Smalls scored 30 points for the first time in her career, which tied the 43^rd most in a game for a JMU player
JMU won its fifth game of the season 74-53

GAME NOTES

Smalls' 30 points are tied for 43^rd most by a JMU player in a game
Smalls is the fourth CAA player this season to tally 30 points in a game
Smalls has now scored 10 or more points in a game for the eighth consecutive contest dating back to last season
Benitez has scored 10-plus points in her five games played in Purple and Gold
This was the second game JMU has hit at least 10 from behind the arc, the last being at Delaware State
JMU shot a season-best 58.8-percent from the field
The Dukes' 17 assists tied a season best (Winthrop & Hampton)
JMU's 10 steals were tied for a season best (at Delaware State)
This is the second game this season the Dukes have a 20-plus margin of victory (at Delaware State)
JMU had held all six opponents to under 40-percent shooting from the field
Liberty has not won in the Vines Center against JMU since Dec. 4, 2012
Liberty is 0-3 against in-state opponents this season
This marked the second straight game holding opponents to two or less made shots from behind the arc.
Kayla Cooper-Williams is tied for fourth all-time in career blocks with 156. She is tied with Lauren Okafor.