Dukes Fall to Hot-Shooting Belmont in WBIT Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

30-6,18-0Sun Belt

Belmont

25-12,15-5MVC

Belmont

James Madison

Dukes Fall to Hot-Shooting Belmont in WBIT Quarterfinals

3/27/2025 10:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Belmont connected on 18-of-39 (.462) from three, while James Madison went 19-for-62 (.306) from the field as the Dukes fell to the Bruins, 90-45, on Thursday night inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals.

Belmont (25-12, 15-5 MVC) led wire-to-wire, highlighted by going on a 39-4 run between the second and third quarters, while their 18 threes set a JMU opponent record. The Bruins will face fourth-seeded Villanova in the WBIT Semifinals on Monday, March 31. James Madison (30-6, 18-0 SBC) finished the season with the most wins (30) in program history and recorded their fourth season undefeated in conference play.

Angela Williams paced the Dukes in points (10), rebounds (6) and steals (3), while Ro Scott finished with eight points and two assists. Bree Robinson chipped in with six points and a career-high five boards off the bench.

For Belmont, Tuti Jones hit 8-of-11 (.727) from the long line and 9-of-15 (.600) from the field for a game-high 26 points. Kendall Holmes registered 22 points, knocking down 5-of-9 (.555), while Kendal Cheesman grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. Camryn Harrison rejected three shots in the win.

How It Happened
First Quarter – Belmont 22, JMU 11

Belmont hit six of its first eight shots, including going 2-for-3 (.667) from three, to take a 15-8 lead at the first media timeout.
The Dukes went 4-of-16 (.250) from the field and were out-scored 10-4 in the paint.

Second Quarter – Belmont 40, JMU 20

After cutting the deficit to seven (27-20), JMU missed its final eight shots to go scoreless in the final 5:43, while the Bruins closed on a 13-0 run.
The Dukes' cold shooting continued, producing a 22.2 percent (4-of-18) clip.

Third Quarter – Belmont 71, JMU 31

JMU scored on its opening possession, but Belmont responded with an 18-2 spurt to make it 58-24 at the 4:44 mark.
The Bruins knocked down 7-of-10 (.700) from three in the frame.

Fourth Quarter – Belmont 90, JMU 45

Belmont closed on a 12-2 run in the final 4:10, while the Dukes committed four turnovers in the final 5:14 of play.

Game Notes

The 20 first-half points are the second lowest this season. The Dukes previously scored 17 at NC State on Dec. 19.
JMU finished the 2024-25 campaign with 16 wins at home, the most since the Atlantic Union Bank Center opened in 2020.
Belmont's 31 points in the third quarter tied for the most by a JMU opponent in a quarter this season. Previously, Texas scored 31 points in the opening frame against the Dukes on Dec. 8.
Williams' 10 points marked the third time she has scored 10-plus points this season.
The Dukes were out-rebounded 48-34 (-14), the biggest margin they have lost the rebounding battle.