McDaniel, Barnes, and Robinson Honored With Sun Belt Postseason Awards

NEW ORLEANS – James Madison women's Peyton McDaniel, Ashanti Barnes, and Bree Robinson all earned recognition with postseason awards from the Sun Belt Conference, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon.

McDaniel was named an All-Sun Belt First Team member, and Barnes landed on the Second Team for consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, Barnes and Bree Robinson both earned spots on the Sun Belt All-Defensive Team.

For McDaniel, she is the first JMU player to earn first team all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons since Kamiah Smalls did so in three consecutive seasons (2018-20). McDaniel's scoring average (18.3) ranks second in the league, while her rebounding (7.5) is seventh. The guard recorded 12 performances of 20-plus points and posted seven double-doubles, four of which came against Sun Belt opponents.

Looking at her illustrious career, McDaniel ranks second in three-pointers (334), third in points (2,235), fourth in field goals (801), and 15th in rebounds (998) among all active Division I players. With two more rebounds, the redshirt senior will become just the second Duke in school history to produce over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career, joining former WNBA veteran Tamera Young (2004-08), who finished with 2,121 points and 1,127 boards.

A versatile forward, Barnes is one of three players in the nation to average at least 15 points (15.0) and nine boards (9.3) per game, while dishing out 67 assists. Meanwhile, the graduate student is 22nd nationally in rebounds (287). The Norfolk, Va. native has produced 10 double-doubles in 2025-26, including three with 20-plus points, highlighted by recording a stat line of 29 points and 16 rebounds on Senior Day versus Coastal Carolina on Feb. 27.

She turned up the heat in league play, pacing the Sun Belt in field goal percentage at 53.7% (115-of-214), while increasing her averages to 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

An elite two-way player, Robinson averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 assists per game in her first season starting for the Dukes. The guard was especially strong against league opponents, increasing her scoring to 14.0 points per outing, while shooting 48.7% (97-of-199) from the field and 40.0% (24-of-60) from three-point range.

In addition to her offensive production, Robinson tallied 78 steals – good for second in the conference this season and second in program history for a single season. Additionally, her 78 swipes rank 27th in the nation. The guard has finished with five or more steals in four games this season, highlighted by a career-high seven at Arkansas State (Jan. 25).

2025-26 Sun Belt Women's Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Kishyah Anderson, Georgia Southern

Defensive Player of the Year
Zay Dyer, Troy

Newcomer of the Year
Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, Marshall

Freshman of the Year
Kinsea Grimes, Coastal Carolina

Sixth Woman of the Year
Mimi McCollister, Arkansas State

Coach of the Year
Hana Haden, Georgia Southern

All-Sun Belt Conference First Team
Kishyah Anderson, Georgia Southern
Zay Dyer, Troy
Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, Marshall
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison
Zyion Shannon, Arkansas State

All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
Ashanti Barnes, James Madison
Destiny Garrett, Georgia Southern
Jakayla Johnson, Southern Miss
Fortuna Ngnawo, Troy
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State

All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion
McKenna Eddings, Georgia Southern
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State
Emani Jenkins, Troy
Kristin Williams, Coastal Carolina

All-Sun Belt Defensive Team
Ashanti Barnes, James Madison
Zay Dyer, Troy
Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, Marshall
Bree Robinson, James Madison
Zyion Shannon, Arkansas State

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