Women's Basketball Hammers Gardner-Webb at Home, 102-69

Sunday, November 17

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

4-1,0-0Sun Belt

102

Gardner-Webb

1-4,0-0Big South

Gardner-Webb

James Madison

102

Zakiya Stephenson vs Gardner-Webb 111724

11/17/2024 6:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Five Dukes scored in double figures as James Madison reached triple digits for the first time this season with a victory over Gardner-Webb, 102-69, in non-conference women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

JMU (4-1) out-rebounded the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-4) 55 to 31, including 24 on the offensive end, and knocked down 13-of-28 (.464) from behind the line.

Peyton McDaniel secured her second double-double of the year with a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 4-of-8 (.500) shots from deep. Ro Scott scored 22 points off the bench to go along with season highs in boards (5) and assists (4). Ashanti Barnes tallied 13 points on 6-of-9 (.667) from the field and brought down a season-high seven rebounds. Kseniia Kozlova chipped in with 10 points and eight boards.

Zakiya Stephenson registered a career-high 13 points, hitting 3-of-5 (.600) from three and dished out a career-best seven assists.

Gardner-Webb's Elle Blatchford shot 6-for-7 (.857) from three for a career-high 20 points. Ashley Hawkins added 15 points and a team-best six assists, while Anaya Harris finished with 14 points and four rebounds.

How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 23, GWU 22

McDaniel's second three-pointer of the quarter put the Dukes ahead 15-14 heading into the media timeout.
JMU went on an 8-2 run following the timeout, however, unanswered back-to-back threes from the Runnin' Bulldogs cut the JMU lead to one at the end of the first quarter (23–22).

Second Quarter – JMU 52, GWU 38

Eleven points from McDaniel and six from Barnes allowed the Dukes to grow their lead to nine (45-36) at the 2:45 mark.
The Dukes closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 14-point lead into halftime. Five points during that run came from a three-pointer and layup from Scott.
JMU controlled the glass in the second quarter, grabbing 15 rebounds to GWU's six. Six of the Dukes' rebounds were on the offensive end, leading to three second chance buckets.

Third Quarter – JMU 79, GWU 51

Back-to-back threes from Stephenson opened the scoring in the second half. Moments later, a fast break layup from Barnes made it 60-40 JMU and forced a GWU timeout at the 7:08 mark.
Strong defense from the Dukes, including two steals from Bree Robinson, allowed JMU to outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs 27-13 in the frame and push its lead to 28 (79-51).

Fourth Quarter – JMU 102, GWU 69

The Dukes stretched their lead to 30 points (81-51) within the opening minutes of the final quarter off a baseline runner from Stephenson.
A three-pointer from Laura Molnárová and a pair of free throws from Angela Williams pushed JMU to 100 points for the first time this season.

Game Notes

JMU reached the 100-point plateau for the first time against a Division I opponent in regulation, since putting up 103 against Delaware State on Nov. 13, 2018.
The Dukes saw five players score in double figures for the second time this season. JMU also had five double-digit scorers against Loyola Maryland on Nov. 7: Barnes (16), McDaniel (16), Kozlova (16), Angela Williams (14) and Jamia Hazell (11).
James Madison held an advantage in points in the paint (46-20), bench points (36-31), points off turnovers (27-8) and second chance points (21-10).
The Dukes forced 17 turnovers, eight of which from steals.
JMU leads Gardner-Webb 2-0 in the all-time series, dating back to 2001.
The Dukes grabbed 50-plus rebounds for the first time since March 11, 2024, when they grabbed 59 rebounds against Marshall.
JMU's 13 three-pointers were the most in a game since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.

Up Next
The Dukes will complete the two-game homestand when they host Saint Peter's on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The opening tip is slated for 7 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.