Dukes Hold Off Louisiana in Play4Kay Game

Thursday, February 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

19-6,9-4Sun Belt

Louisiana

14-11,8-5Sun Belt

Louisiana

James Madison

2/9/2023 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison did not allow Louisiana to make a single three-pointer as the Dukes came away with a gritty 65-59 win over the Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday night inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

JMU moves to 19-6 (9-4 SBC) with five conference games remaining. Meanwhile, Louisiana falls to 14-11 (8-5 SBC) and looks to bounce back at South Alabama on Saturday.

Junior Peyton McDaniel dropped 18 points off the bench, hitting 4-of-8 (50.0%) from behind the arc to lead the Dukes. Senior Kiki Jefferson registered her third-straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Her double-double performance was her eighth of the season and 19th in her career. Junior Kobe King-Hawea added 12 points, six rebounds, and a block, while graduate student Caroline Germond produced four assists and recorded one steal in the win.

How It Happened

James Madison locked down on defense from the opening whistle, holding Louisiana to just six points in the first quarter to take a 13-6 lead.
McDaniel knocked down a trio of three-pointers and registered 11 points in the second period to give the Dukes a 32-23 advantage at the intermission.
JMU got off to a slow start in the second half, only making one basket in the first five minutes of the third quarter which coincided with a 9-0 run by the Ragin' Cajuns.
Louisiana cut the deficit to one, 37-36, at the 3:01 mark of the third. From there, the Dukes were able to make it a 44-41 game going into the fourth quarter.
The Ragin' Cajuns brought it within one early in the final period before Hazell and Jefferson drilled triples to give James Madison a 53-46 game with under six to go.
Both teams traded baskets, however, the Dukes made five free throws with under 20 seconds to go to seal the deal with a 65-59 win.

Game Notes

James Madison now leads the all-time series 2-0 against Louisiana.
The Dukes shot 10-of-32 (31.3%) from three-point range, the fourth time this season the team has recorded double figures in the category.
McDaniel was responsible for four makes from deep, her sixth game this season with at least four triples.
JMU sunk 17-of-22 (77.3%) from the charity stripe, the first time it has shot 75% or better since going 13-for-15 (86.7%) against Troy on Jan. 21.
With 13 assists, James Madison has produced 10-plus assists in its last four games. Additionally, Germond dished out four assists, her 13th game as a Duke with at least four.
The Dukes committed just 10 turnovers against Louisiana. So far in 2022-23, the team has had five games with 10 or fewer.
The Ragin' Cajuns were held to just 59 points, the 12th time JMU has not allowed an opponent to score 60-plus points this season.
Louisiana went 0-13 from deep, becoming the first James Madison opponent in 2022-23 that has failed to make a three-point basket. The last opponent to not muster a three-pointer against the Dukes was Liberty, going 0-7 on Dec. 6, 2017.

Up Next
The Dukes are set to host Arkansas State on Saturday, Feb. 11. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. and stream on ESPN+. Saturday will also be a Purple Out, as well as National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Duke Dog Reading Program Day, High School Pep Band Day, along with a Title IX celebration.