HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — James Madison dominated Appalachian State 74-48 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at JMU Convocation Center. The Dukes seized control with a 22-point second quarter, building a 38-27 halftime lead and never relenting. Ashanti Barnes led all scorers with 23 points and added seven rebounds for James Madison. Peyton McDaniel contributed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Feryal Defne Atli scored 11 points for the Mountaineers, who struggled offensively after halftime. James Madison improved to 21-8 overall, while Appalachian State fell to 11-16. An announced crowd of 4,690 attended the game.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The James Madison women’s basketball team used a dominant second-quarter surge to seize control and never looked back, cruising to a 74-48 victory over Appalachian State on Saturday at a raucous JMU Convocation Center. A crowd of 4,690 watched the Dukes improve to 21-8 overall, while the Mountaineers fell to 11-16. The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period. After a competitive first quarter that ended with James Madison leading 16-11, the Dukes unleashed a 22-point quarter, outscoring Appalachian State by 14 to build a 38-27 halftime advantage. The Mountaineers, who shot just 1 for 4 from the free-throw line for the entire game, could not keep pace with James Madison’s efficient offense and disruptive defense. James Madison’s offensive rating of 108.8 on 68 possessions starkly contrasted with Appalachian State’s rating of 74.0 on 65 possessions, underscoring the Dukes’ superior execution. The Dukes capitalized on Appalachian State’s mistakes, scoring 23 points off 14 Mountaineer turnovers, while the visitors managed only 10 points off 13 James Madison giveaways. Ashanti Barnes, a 6-foot-2 guard from Norfolk, Virginia, led all scorers with 23 points, adding seven rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. She was instrumental in the second-quarter run and consistently found ways to score inside, helping James Madison to a 34-26 advantage in points in the paint. Peyton McDaniel provided a formidable double-double for the Dukes, contributing 18 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes. The 6-foot guard from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, was active on both ends, securing key offensive boards that led to second-chance opportunities. For Appalachian State, Elena Pericic, a 6-1 guard from Rijeka, Croatia, led the way with 14 points. Feryal Defne Atli, a 6-3 forward from Mersin, Turkey, added 11 points, seven rebounds and a block. The Mountaineers struggled to find consistent offense outside of that duo, shooting 39.6% from the field and failing to reach 50 points. James Madison’s defensive pressure was a constant theme, tallying 11 steals and forcing Appalachian State into a series of rushed shots and costly errors, particularly during the game-turning second quarter. The Dukes also enjoyed a significant advantage at the charity stripe, making 15 of 19 attempts compared to the Mountaineers’ solitary make on four tries. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for James Madison, which also defeated Appalachian State 60-53 on the road on Feb. 11. The Dukes have now won three straight and seven of their last eight games. Appalachian State, which has lost two in a row, was led in assists by Emma Smith, who had three to go with her nine points. James Madison returns to action Wednesday at home against Old Dominion. Appalachian State hosts Georgia Southern on Wednesday.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The James Madison women’s basketball team, riding high after a dominant win, will look to complete a regular-season sweep when it hosts Appalachian State on Saturday. The Dukes (20-8) enter the contest at the JMU Convocation Center having won seven of their last eight games, including an 87-53 rout of Old Dominion on Feb. 14. In that victory, guard Bree Robinson exploded for a season-high 30 points. Robinson, a key player to watch, also contributed nine points in the teams’ first meeting this season, a 60-53 James Madison road win on Feb. 11. Appalachian State (11-15) seeks to halt a two-game skid and avenge that earlier loss. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking 65-64 defeat at Coastal Carolina on Feb. 18, where guard Emma Smith scored 22 points. Smith, the Mountaineers’ standout, has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 12.6 points over her last eight contests. She led Appalachian State with 13 points in the loss to James Madison earlier this month. The matchup pits two teams on opposite trajectories. James Madison has showcased a potent offense, scoring 80 or more points in four of its last six wins. Appalachian State has struggled for consistency, with its last five games decided by 10 points or fewer. History favors the home team, as James Madison has won the last three meetings. Appalachian State’s last victory in the series came during the 2023-24 season. Following this game, James Madison will host Old Dominion on Wednesday. Appalachian State returns home to face Georgia Southern on Feb. 25.