McDaniel Scores 29 in Dominant Season-Opening Victory Over Kent State

Monday, November 3

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0,0-0Sun Belt

Kent State

0-1,0-0MAC

Kent St.

James Madison

McDaniel Scores 29 in Dominant Season-Opening Victory Over Kent State

11/3/2025 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Press Conference: Coach O Press Conference: Players Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Peyton McDaniel scored 29 points as James Madison women's basketball limited Kent State to 1-of-16 (.063) from the three while the Dukes finished with 35 points off turnovers and in a dominant 80-48 season-opening victory over the Golden Flashes in the first leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge on Monday night inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

JMU (1-0) led wire-to-wire, with its aggressive defensive tallying 16 steals – the most by the program since 2017. In total, Mid-American Conference favorite Kent State (0-1) committed 25 turnovers and was held to 15-of-59 (.254) from the field.

McDaniel went 10-of-16 (.625) from the floor to go along with eight rebounds and two steals, leading all players in scoring. Zakiya Stephenson tied her career high with 13 points, knocking down 3-of-5 (.600) from three while dishing out a game-high five assists. Bree Robinson finished in double figures with 10 points and came away with four steals.

In 28 minutes off the bench, Brianna McLeod paced the Dukes in rebounding with a career-high 11 boards and four steals. Angela Williams scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter, pulled down six rebounds and rejected a career-high three shots in her 14 minutes as a reserve.

For KSU, Riley Rismiller and Corynne Hauser both finished with 10 points to lead the Golden Flashes, with Rismiller adding 12 rebounds to complete the double-double. Mya Babbitt recorded seven points and seven rebounds, however, the Dukes limited her to 1-of-15 (.067) from the field and 1-of-9 (.111) from behind the arc.

How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 22, Kent State 8

The Dukes jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the opening 2:22 of action, with McDaniel scoring nine points.
The Golden Flashes managed to connect on just 2-of-12 (.167) from the floor and recorded nine giveaways, while McDaniel went 5-for-6 (.833) in the frame.

Second Quarter – JMU 45, Kent State 18

Six Dukes scored in the frame, as JMU combined for 8-of-16 (.500) from the field and 4-of-9 (.444) from long range.
At the half, McDaniel had totaled 21 points compared to Kent State's 18.

Third Quarter – JMU 61, Kent State 36

The Golden Flashes doubled their scoring in the third with 18 points on 6-of-13 (.462) from the floor and knocked down 6-of-7 (.857) at the free throw line.

Fourth Quarter – JMU 80, Kent State 48

Williams scored 10 points and registered a pair of blocks.
The Dukes used a 7-0 run down the stretch to increase their lead to 35 (78-43) at the 1:33 mark.

Game Notes

JMU held an advantage in bench points (40-24), fast break points (26-7), and steals (16-5).
McDaniel notched her 10th game scoring 25 or more points, and 30th with 20-plus.
The last time James Madison came away with 16 or more steals was in 2017 when it accrued 17 against Bryant on Dec. 21.
The Dukes' victory was their first wire-to-wire win since defeating App State 77-61 last season on Feb. 13.
In its last two games against Kent State, JMU has held the Golden Flashes to 1-of-35 (.026) from three.
McDonough is the first true freshman to start on opening night for JMU since McDaniel made her collegiate debut against Mount St. Mary's on Nov. 25, 2020.
Williams scored in double figures for the fifth time in her career, while Robinson recorded her third career game with four or more steals.
Stephenson has now dished out five or more assists in 11 games.

Up Next
The Dukes continue their five-game homestand Thursday as they welcome George Mason for a 7 p.m. tip inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center, with action streaming on ESPN+.