JMU’s Comeback Hopes Fall Just Short

Sunday, January 31

Charleston, S.C.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

8-6,4-3CAA

College of Charleston

6-4,2-2CAA

James Madison

Col. of Charleston

1/31/2021 3:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score @JMUWBasketball

CHARLESTON, S.C. – James Madison women's basketball used multiple runs in the second half to try and fight back from a slow start but could not overcome the deficit and suffered a 65-63 loss to College of Charleston in Colonial Athletic Association play in TD Arena.

Despite struggling from the field in the first half, the Dukes (8-6, 4-3 CAA) turned it around to shoot 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field in the game but could not get the defensive stops they needed to at the end to finish the comeback.

Freshman Jamia Hazell paced the Dukes with a season-best 19 points on an efficient 50 percent clip (7-of-14) from the field including sinking four treys. Hazell added five rebounds (season high) and a game-high four assists to her stat line.

Sophomore Kiki Jefferson chipped in 15 points, seven rebounds, two dimes and one steal while classmate Rayne Tucker poured in 14 points, only missing one shot (6-of 7 FG, 2-of-2 FT) with three boards and a season-high tying three blocks.

How It Happened
JMU hit the first three of the game but the Cougars (6-4, 2-2 CAA) responded with a 15-0 run that gave them enough momentum in the first half to go into the break with a 31-23 lead.

The Dukes responded very well coming out of the break, as the team sunk seven shots including a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to reduce the deficit to 49-45 after 30 minutes of action. In the fourth, JMU trailed 63-54 with 2:59 remaining before the Dukes went on an 8-0 run to bring the deficit to one point (65-62, 19 seconds).

After a timeout to draw up a play, Jefferson was fouled on the three-point attempt but only made one of three attempts from the line which allowed Charleston to slip away with a tight 65-63 win.

Quick Hits
- Junior Jaylin Carodine controlled the boards once again as she posted a team-high eight rebounds
- Junior Madison Green tied her season high with two steals

Up Next
JMU remains on the road for a midweek matchup with Towson on Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. The game was rescheduled from Jan. 5 due to a positive CoVID-19 case within Towson's program.