James Madison Dukes (13-4, 5-0 SBC) vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (5-11, 0-5 SBC)
Date: January 15, 2025 – Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Huntington, W. Va. – Cam Henderson Center
Game Information
Broadcast: ESPN+ · Audio Coverage · Live Stats
JMU Game Notes
Follow Us: JMUSports.com · @JMUWBasketball · #GoDukes
Women’s Basketball Takes the Court in Huntington
- On Wednesday, January 15, the James Madison Dukes will finalize their regular-season match-up with the Marshall Thundering Herd at 6 p.m. inside the Cam Henderson Center. Fans can catch the game streaming live on ESPN+.
- Recently, Peyton McDaniel shone with a remarkable performance, scoring a season-high 29 points and leading the Dukes to an impressive 85-68 victory against Georgia Southern. She achieved 21 of those points in the second half, further solidifying JMU’s fifth consecutive win.
- The Dukes were strong from the free-throw line, converting 25 of 30 attempts (83.3%), while limiting Georgia Southern to just four offensive rebounds. JMU dominated the rebounding game, finishing with a 46-31 advantage.
- Zakiya Stephenson contributed a career-best nine rebounds, along with nine points and six assists. Meanwhile, Kseniia Kozlova achieved 12 points, four boards, and one block in just 19 minutes. Off the bench, Annalicia Goodman added 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds.
- The Dukes currently rank highly in several national statistics: tied for 15th in defensive rebounds per game (29.5), tied for 28th in total rebounds per game (41.94), and 38th in three-point defense (26.4%).
- Individually, McDaniel ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (15.3 points per game) and fifth in rebounding (7.8 rebounds per game).
- Marshall, while facing challenges this season, showcased resilience in their recent game against Old Dominion, where they shot 45% from the field despite a close loss, falling 80-75.
- The Herd is recognized nationally for their shooting prowess, ranking fifth in three-point attempts per game (30.6) and eighth in three-pointers made per game (10.1).
Previous Encounter with the Thundering Herd
- In their last meeting on January 9, Ashanti Barnes delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 25 points alongside 10 rebounds, leading JMU to a 71-59 victory over Marshall. She shot 61.5% from the field and was perfect from the charity stripe, making all nine attempts.
- Peyton McDaniel also contributed significantly with 15 points, making 60% of her three-point attempts, while Bree Robinson added a personal best of 12 points, bolstered by three steals. Jamia Hazell chipped in with eight points as well.
- The Dukes excelled in key areas, leading in points in the paint (34-22), points off turnovers (24-14), bench scoring (19-12), and fast break points (15-9).
Impressive Road Performance
- Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, the Dukes have demonstrated exceptional performance on the road, boasting a 33-15 record (.688). Notably, their first season in the conference saw them achieve a stellar 16-4 record, tying a program record with 12 true road wins, previously set in the 2006-07 and 2014-15 seasons.
- Recently, JMU has won four out of their last five contests away from home, with their latest triumph being an 81-60 victory against Texas State on January 4.
JMU’s Record in the Sun Belt Conference
- James Madison boasts an 85-68 record (.556) against current Sun Belt opponents and has performed impressively with a 36-11 record (.766) since joining the conference.
- Old Dominion has been JMU’s most frequent opponent in the Sun Belt, leading the all-time series 53-30, and remains the only team with a winning record against the Dukes.
- However, JMU remains unbeaten against several teams, including Louisiana (5-0), Southern Miss (3-0), Texas State (3-0), Arkansas State (2-0), South Alabama (2-0), and ULM (1-0).
