Top-Seeded JMU Rallies Over #8 CofC 53-50

3/10/2016 1:50:25 PM

Rob Washburn

BOXSCORE | CAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (March 10, 2016) – James Madison senior guard Ashley Perez scored the game’s final seven points to help the top-seeded Dukes escape with a 53-50 victory over #8 College of Charleston in the first quarterfinal contest of the 2016 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship on Thursday afternoon at The Show Place Arena.

The Dukes (25-5), who have captured the past two CAA championships, extended their winning streak to 18 games and advanced to Friday’s 1:30 p.m. semifinal contest against either fourth-seeded Elon or fifth-seeded Delaware. College of Charleston, which nearly became the first #8 seed to ever reach the CAA semifinals, ended the season with an 11-20 mark.

JMU trailed 50-46 with 1:53 remaining before Perez took over. She sank three free throws after being fouled on a shot from beyond the arc with 1:18 to go to cut the deficit to one. Perez then made a steal in the backcourt and drained a three-pointer from the right corner with 1:07 left that gave the Dukes their first lead, 52-50, since the opening minute of the game.

Both teams missed opportunities to score in the final minute before Perez went to the line again with six seconds remaining. She hit the first free throw, but missed the second. CofC’s Kelsey Booth had a good look at a game-tying 3-pointer from the left side, but it went off the rim as time expired.

Perez finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. JMU also got 13 points and 10 rebounds from CAA Player of the Year Jazmon Gwathmey, while CAA Rookie of the Year Kayla Cooper-Williams pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds.

Booth poured in a game-high 22 points on 8-of-16 field goal shooting to lead CofC and senior forward Jackie Luna-Castro added 14 points and seven rebounds.

CofC came out on fire, hitting its first four shots from the floor, including 3-pointers by Luna-Castro and Booth, to open up a 12-4 lead. After a JMU basket, the Cougars closed the period on an 8-0 run over the final 5:13 to extend their advantage to 20-6. CofC’s defense limited the Dukes to 2-for-14 field goal shooting in the first quarter and forced six turnovers.

The Cougars still held a 10-point advantage with under three minutes left in the second quarter, but JMU got a pair of jumpers from Gwathmey and another from Perez to close within 27-23 at the half.

JMU got as close as two points early in the third quarter, but CofC never let the Dukes draw even. Booth scored nine of CofC’s 11 points in the third quarter, including a layup that made it 38-31 with 1:47 to go. JMU drew within 38-34 after three periods. The Cougars increased their lead to seven, 46-39, on a Booth three-pointer with 5:36 to play before JMU began its comeback.

The Dukes shot just 27.9% from the floor for the game and also committed 16 turnovers. The Cougars shot 32.1% from the floor and were also hurt by making only 12-of-21 from the free throw line.

JMU advanced to the semifinals of the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship for the 12th year in a row.