James Madison Holds Off Virginia Tech, Reaches WNIT Quarterfinals
HARRISONBURG, Va. (March 28, 2019) – For the first time since 2013, James Madison has reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT, holding off visiting Virginia Tech, 70-66, on Thursday evening at the Convocation Center.
James Madison (28-5) will host Georgetown on Sunday, March 31, at 2 p.m. ET, in the WNIT quarterfinals. The Dukes downed the Hoyas, 69-57, on Nov. 16, 2018.
The Dukes led for the majority of the second half, but saw Virginia Tech tie the game at 63 with 1:32 to play. Devon Merritt responded with a basket down low with 1:09 remaining before Taylor Emery’s 3-pointer gave the Hokies a 66-65 edge with 50.8 seconds left in regulation.
After a timeout, Kamiah Smalls was fouled while driving to the basket; the first team all-CAA selection drained both free throws with 28.4 seconds to play.
On Virginia Tech’s subsequent possession, Aneah Young blocked Emery’s attempt at a 3-pointer and Kayla Cooper-Williams grabbed the rebound before the Hokies were forced to foul. Jackie Benitez split a pair of free throws, missing the second as JMU came away with the offensive rebound. Logan Reynolds converted both free throws with a half-second left to provide the game’s final margin.
Trailing by a single point at halftime, 35-34, the Dukes grabbed the lead seven seconds into the third quarter behind Logan Reynolds’ 3-point play. Though Virginia Tech would twice retake the lead in the quarter, James Madison took the lead for good after a Jackie Benitez jumper and Aneah Young layup that put the Dukes ahead, 45-43, with 5:36 remaining in the quarter.
Over a 7:46 stretch to start the fourth quarter, James Madison held Virginia Tech to a 2-of-11 mark from the field, enabling the Dukes to hold on to a slim lead throughout three-quarters of the final quarter.
Smalls led three Dukes in double figures with 16 points, with Benitez adding 15 and Merritt 10. Virginia Tech’s Emery led all scorers with 21 points, while Trinity Baptiste posted 18.
The victory pushed James Madison’s home-court winning streak to 30 games, the third-longest active streak in the NCAA.