Double-Digit Performances Lead JMU to 67-56 Win Over Drexel

Friday, January 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

10-5, 3-1CAA

Drexel

6-9, 2-2CAA

Drexel

JMU

Double-Digit Performances Lead JMU to 67-56 Win Over Drexel

1/15/2016 9:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison women's basketball used a 15-3 run in the first quarter to take a 15-5 lead and control for the remainder of the contest as JMU defeated Drexel 67-56 at the JMU Convocation Center on Friday night. The Dukes advanced to 10-5 (3-1 CAA) while the Dragons fell to 6-9 (2-2 CAA).

This marked the Dukes' sixth straight win against the Dragons and the ninth straight win overall at home.

The game was the first this season with a pair of Dukes recording double-digit rebounds, part of a dominating 46-27 effort. JMU turned 18 offensive boards into a 23-6 advantage in second-chance points. In her first collegiate double-double, freshman center Kayla Cooper-Williams recorded a game-high and career-high 16 rebounds, her second straight game in double digits and the establishing of a career high. She scored a career-high-tying 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance on the floor. Junior forward Da'Lishia Griffin, grabbed 11 boards and contributed eight points with an assist, a block and a steal.

In her third straight 20-plus point performance, redshirt senior guard Jazmon Gwathmey scored a game-high 22 points and moved to 26th on the JMU career scoring chart with 1,163 points, surpassing former teammate Toia Giggetts (JMU '15). Senior point guard had her eighth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 18 points and added a game-high eight assists. She has tallied 555 career assists, five shy of Floretta Jackson's (JMU '87) mark of 560, which ranks fourth in JMU history.

JMU finished the game shooting 44.1 percent, aided by a 66.7-percent showing from the floor in the first frame. In the second half, the Dukes were perfect from the free-throw line (5-for-5) in the second half for a 77.8 percent overall (7-for-9), while the Dragons shot 64.7 percent (11-for-17) for the game.

The Dukes return home on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. to take on Northeastern. The Huskies are coming off a 69-68 overtime win against William & Mary.

TWEET OF THE GAME

Gwathmey's 3ptr (22pts) pushes her career total to 1,163 & passing former teammate Toia Giggetts for 26th all-time #GoDukes
— JMU Dukes WBB (@JMUWBasketball) January 16, 2016

QUOTING HEAD COACH KENNY BROOKS (Full postgame here)
"I thought that was a very good win, it's a stressful game anytime you are playing against Drexel. They play very well and keep you on your feet the whole time with the way the shoot 3-pointers."
See the players' postgame here.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Check here for full highlights from tonight's game.

ON THE BOARDS

Freshman center Kayla Cooper-Williams had a career-high 16 rebounds, surpassing her previous career high of 15 set last Sunday at Elon.
Junior forward Da'Lishia Griffin had 11 rebounds on the night, her fourth double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
This marked the first game this season that two Dukes had double-digit rebounds in the same game.

PHOTO OF THE GAME
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CONSECUTIVE MARKS

JMU has won nine straight games at home.
JMU has won six straight games against the Dragons.
The Convo has held 2,000 or more fans in 34 straight games.
Redshirt senior guard Jazmon Gwathmey has scored in double digits for six straight games, including three consecutive 20+ point performances.
Freshman center Kayla Cooper-Williams has pulled down double-figure rebounds in two straight games.

UP NEXT
JMU is back home on Sunday, Jan. 17, for a 2 p.m. tipoff against Northeastern. The Dukes hold an all-time series lead of 16-1, including an 8-0 mark at the Convo.