ELON, N.C. – Five James Madison women's basketball players scored in double figures en route to the Dukes 74-46 regular-season sweep over two-time reigning CAA Champions Elon. The Dukes improved to 21-4, 13-1, while the Phoenix dropped to 8-16, 3-10.
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The Dukes started out on a 6-0 run with three separate players adding to the scoring. JMU never let up in the opening frame going on a late 10-0 run to lead 20-5. The Dukes allowed just two field goals from the Phoenix in the first quarter, the fourth time this season allowing just two. JMU held a 25-9 lead after one quarter played.
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Elon turned on the jets from downtown hitting four from behind the arc in the second quarter, but the Dukes kept up totaling six in the first half.
Kamiah Smalls was shooting 100% from all aspects of the floor at the half with a game-high 16 points. JMU shot an impressive 56.8% (17-29) from the floor in the first half to take a 42-23 lead over the Phoenix.
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The Phoenix came out on a 5-0 run to start the frame, but the Dukes rolled on an 8-0 run behind
Lexie Barrier hitting four from the free throw line to stay ahead. Barrier finished with nine of her 11 points in the frame. The Dukes went 8-13 (61.5%) from the field to push their lead 63-34.
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JMU continued to battle in the final frame to pick up its 13
th conference victory despite a late comeback attempt from Elon. The Phoenix outscored the Dukes 12-11 in the final frame but JMU wrapped up the fourth regular season sweep of Elon 74-46 in the Schar Center.
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GAME NOTES
- The two field goals allowed in the first quarter is the fourth time this season allowing just two, and the second lowest (allowed one against Elon in Harrisonburg)
- JMU had five players in double-figure scoring for the second, the most of the season
- The last time JMU had five players in double-figure scoring was Feb. 10, 2017, when the Dukes beat Delaware 77-42 in the Convocation Center
- Kamiah Smalls led all scorers with 16 points
- Devon Merritt was a perfect 5-5 from the field to add 10
- Logan Reynolds, Lexie Barrier and Jackie Benitez all added 11 points
- This marked the fourth time sweeping Elon in the regular season, first since 2017 season JMU is on a nine-game win streak which is the longest of the season and longest since last season (11)
- The Dukes shot 51.8% from the field in the game, their second-best shooting of the season (best was 53.1% against Northeastern 1/13)
- JMU has beat seven CAA opponents by 20-plus which is the most since 2015-16 when it was done eight times
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UP NEXT
JMU wraps up the weekend at William & Mary on Sunday. Feb. 24. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Â
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