Dukes Fly Past Eastern Michigan, 78-43

Tuesday, December 20

Philadelphia, Pa.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

9-2,0-0Sun Belt

Eastern Michigan

6-3,0-0MAC

Eastern Mich.

James Madison

12/20/2022 7:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – James Madison connected on 32-of-69 (46.4%) from the field to overpower Eastern Michigan, 78-43, in its first game at the Hawk Classic this afternoon inside the Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena.

JMU (9-2) is on a six-game winning streak and is set to face Saint Joseph's (10-1) tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the tournament's final game. EMU (6-3) will square off against Wright State at 1 p.m. to open up competition tomorrow.

Junior Kseniia Kozlova scored a career-high 18 points on an efficient 9-of-11 (81.8%) from the floor. Classmate Jamia Hazell finished with 12 points, while fellow junior Kobe King-Hawea impressed with 11 points off the bench in her debut with the program. Graduate student Caroline Germond dished out six assists, recorded five points, and nabbed a steal. Senior Kiki Jefferson and junior Peyton McDaniel pulled down six boards as the Dukes out-rebounded the Eagles 44-35.

How It Happened

The Dukes were disruptive in the opening minutes, forcing six turnovers in the first four minutes.
Kozlova came out hot, hitting 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the floor for 10 points in the first period.
JMU forced eight EMU giveaways, resulting in an 18-10 advantage for the Dukes after one.
Eastern fought back in the second quarter with 16 points, courtesy of three triples, but trailed JMU 36-26 at the break.
James Madison opened up the third quarter on a 9-1 run, highlighted by a Jefferson jump shot. JMU continued to lay it on, outscoring Eastern 25-7 in the period.
After going 0-5 from beyond the arc in the first half, the Dukes connected on 4-of-8 (44.4%) in the third as the lead ballooned to 61-33.
James Madison continued to roll in the final period, outscoring the Eagles 17-10, holding them to just 3-of-15 (20.0%) from the field.

Game Notes

JMU owns a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series against Eastern Michigan.
James Madison improved to 9-2 for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
Before scoring 18 against the Eagles, Kozlova's career-high was 13 points versus Queens (N.C.) on Nov. 13. Additionally, her nine makes tie for the most by a JMU player this season with Jefferson (twice).
The Dukes pulled down 44 rebounds, the eighth time this season they have recorded 40 or more.
JMU produced 17 assists in the win, the third-best mark for the Dukes in 2022-23. Germond's six assists mark her third game this year with at least five dimes.
James Madison held Eastern to just 14-of-52 (26.9%) from the field, the Eagles' worst shooting performance so far this season.
The Dukes' bench contributed 32 points, the fourth straight game in which they have added 30 or more.

Up Next
Following the conclusion of the Hawk Classic, the Dukes will return to the Atlantic Union Bank Center for the program's first Sun Belt matchup as a member of the conference, hosting Coastal Carolina on Dec. 29. The opening tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.