James Madison Wins 2014 CAA Women?s Basketball Championship Title
Boxscore | Photos | Delaware Postgame | James Madison Postgame
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (March 16, 2014) – Sophomore guard Jazmon Gwathmey set a career-high with 20 points and tied a personal-best with 14 rebounds to pace a vaunted James Madison offensive attack as the top-seeded Dukes cruised past two-time defending champion and second-seeded Delaware, 70-45, to win the 2014 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship on Sunday at the Show Place Arena.
The Dukes improved to 28-5 on the season and earn the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. It’s the team’s first trip back to the “Big Dance” since 2011, when they also defeated Delaware, in the first CAA Championship held at the Show Place Arena. The Dukes will find out their destination on Monday, March 17 when the NCAA 64-team bracket is announced on ESPN at 7 p.m. Then ESPNU will offer further bracket analysis at 8 p.m.
Gwathmey earned Most Outstanding Player honors for her efforts over the three games and she was joined on the All-Tournament team with teammates Precious Hall and Kirby Burkholder. Delaware’s Joy Caracciolo and senior Kelsey Buchanan were also named to the All-Tournament team alongside UNCW junior Kelva Atkins, who earned the prestigious honor for the second straight year.
Burkholder, this season’s CAA Player of the Year, who was fresh off a record-setting semifinal contest in which she set a new championship single-game record with 22 rebounds, scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Hall added 14 points and dished out four helpers, while fellow classmate Toia Giggetts contributed 11 points and eight boards in the win, which was the team’s 18th in the last 19 games.
Gwathmey’s performance of 20 points and 14 rebounds marked her first double-double of the season. Giggetts has now scored in the double-digits for 24 straight contests which is the fourth-longest streak in program history.
Delaware, remarkably appearing in the league’s title game for the fourth straight season, defeated third-seeded College of Charleston, 60-52 in the semifinals. Senior guard Akeema Richards led the Blue Hens scoring 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while sophomore guard Courtni Green added 10 points, including sinking UD’s only two treys of the game. Caracciolo pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds for Delaware.
JMU has now won seven CAA tournament championships – last claiming back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 – and advanced to Sunday’s tournament final game with a 55-43 win against fourth-seeded Drexel on Saturday. The Dukes defeated the reigning WNIT Champions and the two-time defending CAA women’s basketball champs in back-to-back days.
After a highly efficient first half, which saw JMU hold Delaware to just eight field goals and 18 points, the Dukes wasted little time in the second half and the lead quickly swelled to 29 with 12:17 still remaining.
The Dukes were able to easily hold to its advantage for the remainder of the game and remained relentless down the stretch, even pushing the lead to 31 at one point. JMU finished the contest forcing 22 UD turnovers resulting in 26 points and the Dukes scored 24 second-chance points overall.
There was a clear defensive battle very early on as each squad tried to figure out a game plan. Nearly five minutes in, the contest was deadlocked at 7-7 after a jumper from UD freshman Hannah Jardine. From there, however, JMU’s offense came alive and erupted on a 21-5 spurt to go ahead, 28-12, with 6:48 remaining in the first half.
Hall accounted for nine points during the run, starting it with a triple and ending it with a smooth baseline jumper.
UD’s Caracciolo made a lay-in with 6:30 left to end a scoreless drought that lasted four minutes, while the ‘Hens only managed two more baskets the rest of the half, shooting 33.3 percent (8-of-24). James Madison closed the half on a 10-2 advantage to stake a 38-18 lead at the break.
The Dukes’ stifling defense played a large role in first 20 minutes of play, forcing 14 UD turnovers resulting in 18 points for the top seed. Hall had 11 points, followed by Gwathmey’s eight-point, nine-rebound first half effort.
James Madison advances to the postseason for the ninth straight year. Delaware, which owns a 20-10 record, earns the league’s automatic bid to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Blue Hens and other CAA squads will await the announcement of the WNIT bracket late night March 17.