McDaniel, Jefferson Lead Dukes Past Troy

Saturday, January 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

17-3,7-1Sun Belt

Troy

11-8,6-2Sun Belt

Troy

James Madison

1/21/2023 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Junior Peyton McDaniel (28) and senior Kiki Jefferson (21) combined for 49 points to edge Troy, 80-79, on Saturday night inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

The win gave JMU (17-3, 7-1 SBC) sole ownership of first place in the Sun Belt. For the Trojans (11-8, 6-2), they will look to bounce back against South Alabama on Jan. 26.

McDaniel's 28 points were a season-high as she knocked down 6-of-11 (54.5%) for the second game in a row. The junior also pulled down a season-high nine rebounds, including two huge boards in the final period. Jefferson dropped 21 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter, highlighted by going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. Graduate student Caroline Germond dished out a career-high 10 assists and chipped in with three points. Juniors Kseniia Kozlova and Kobe King-Hawea added 10 and nine points, respectively.

How It Happened

The Dukes led by five, 17-12, with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter before Troy went on a 7-0 run to close the period with a 19-17 advantage.
James Madison responded with a 23-point second quarter, 12 courtesy of McDaniel who connected on 3-of-5 (60.0%) from deep and wrangled in four rebounds to give JMU a 40-34 halftime lead.
The two teams went shot for shot in the third, as JMU outscored the Trojans 18-16. Jefferson scored five points in the frame to help the Dukes head into the final period up 58-50.
Troy cut the deficit to two, 75-73, at the 1:20 mark of the fourth. McDaniel was sent to the charity stripe with 52 seconds remaining where she made the first shot, then missed the second but grabbed her own rebound and scored a reverse layup to make it 78-73.
Jefferson added two late free throws to grow the advantage to seven, 73-80. However, Troy's Makaiya Hallmon knocked down a three-pointer, then stole the ball on the inbound play to drop another triple. James Madison was able to run out the clock on the ensuing play to earn the 80-79 win. Hallmon scored 23 points in the fourth quarter to give her 33 total.

Game Notes

With the win, JMU owns a 1-0 lead in the all-time series against Troy.
After failing to reach 40-plus rebounds in the past two games, James Madison recorded 41 against the Trojans and was +3 in the rebounding margin.
Coming into the game, Troy ranked No. 1 in the nation with 51.28 rebounds per contest. Head Coach Sean O'Regan's squad held them to just 38.
The Dukes shot over 45% from the field for the ninth time this season, making 28-of-62 (45.2%). Moreover, JMU knocked down 11 three-pointers, tied for its best three-point performance this year. The Dukes also made 11 triples against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 29.
The 80-point effort was James Madison's fourth this season dropping 80 or more. The others came against Queens (N.C.) (89 - Nov. 13), Longwood (82 - Nov. 17), and Millersville (80 - Nov. 9).
With a 21-point showing, Jefferson has passed Jazmon Gwathmey (2011-16) for ninth on JMU's all-time scoring list with 1,572 career points.
McDaniel scored 28 against the Trojans and 26 versus Georgia Southern on Jan. 19. The performances marked the first time she has recorded consecutive 20-point games.
Additionally, the junior produced her fifth game this season with five or more three-pointers. She has drilled 12-of-22 (54.5%) from behind the line this week.
With 10 assists, Germond has registered four straight games with at least five dimes and seven overall this season. As a team, James Madison tallied a season-high 21 assists.
The Dukes' 23 points in the second quarter is the third-best showing in that frame in the 2022-23 campaign. The team's best second quarter was 25 points at Longwood on Nov. 11.
JMU went 13-for-15 (86.7%) from the line, the fifth time in the 2022-23 campaign it has shot 80% or better.
The Dukes also held the advantage in bench points (41-25).

Up Next
The Dukes will hit the road next week with contests at Coastal Carolina (Jan. 26) and Georgia State (Jan. 28). Both games will stream on ESPN+.