#2 James Madison Rolls Into Semifinals

3/9/2017 7:30:41 PM

Vicki Friedman

Championship Central | Box Score | Highlights | Photo Gallery | James Madison Postgame | UNCW Postgame

HARRISONBURG, Va. (March 9, 2017) – Second-seeded James Madison used a historic defensive effort to advance to the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship semifinals on Thursday, dominating seventh-seeded UNCW, 52-27.

The 27 points was a CAA record for fewest points in the tournament. UNCW’s 20.9 shooting percentage was also a CAA tournament record for lowest field-goal percentage in the tournament.

The Dukes (23-7), who have won the last three CAA tournament titles, are looking for their first under first-year head coach Sean O’Regan.

The Seahawks, who beat College of Charleston 49-44 in a first-round game on Wednesday, finish the year at 11-20.

How it Happened

JMU led wire to wire, and UNCW converted just nine of 43 field goals. The Seahawks did not convert any of their 10 three-point attempts. Every player on JMU’s roster scored and the Dukes led by as many as 25. The Dukes dominated the paint, outscoring UNCW, 28-4.

By the Numbers
- Redshirt junior forward/center Amber Porter came off the bench to score 10 points for the Dukes
- CAA Player of the Year Precious Hall finished with 10 points in 23 minutes to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 30 games.
- JMU led 27-16 at the break, holding UNCW without a field goal for the final 6:30 of the second quarter.
- JMU had just seven turnovers in the game.
- The 52 points was JMU’s lowest offensive outing since a 54-51 loss at Towson on Jan. 8.
- Jenny DeGraaf’s eight points off the bench led UNCW.
- The last time JMU held an opponent under 30 points was Dec. 7, 1996 against Maryland-Eastern Shore.

They Said It

James Madison Head Coach Sean O’Regan: “Really special defensive effort tonight. Holding them to single-digit quarters was a first for me…I think we can win a championship with a defensive effort like that.”

James Madison redshirt senior guard Precious Hall: “The whole thing in the first game is to get the jitters out.”

James Madison redshirt junior forward Tasia Butler: “Our mindset was to keep shooting. It will eventually fall. Don’t hesitate.”

UNCW Head Coach Adell Harris: “You have to put the ball in the hole to win a game.”

Harris on her seniors Jasmine Steele, Jordan Henry and Amber Reeves: “I love all three of them. They’ve been able to grow as individuals in their time here … They’ve contributed to my life in a way that I will never forget, and I think the feeling is mutual.”

Next Up for James Madison

JMU advances to Friday’s 7 p.m. semifinal and will play the winner of Thursday’s final quarterfinal between No. 3 Drexel and No. 6 Northeastern.