PENSACOLA, Fla. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison women’s basketball shot 60.4% (29-of-48) from the field, 45.0% (9-of-20) from three, and 100.0% (12-of-12) from the free throw line to fly by South Alabama, 79-54, in the Sun Belt Championship Quarterfinals inside the Pensacola Bay Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Dukes (24-8, 14-4 Sun Belt) got off to an incredible start – hitting 72.0% (18-of-25) from the floor in the first half, while also holding the Jaguars (16-18, 5-13 Sun Belt) to just one assist for JMU’s 10th consecutive victory.
James Madison will now face top-seeded Georgia Southern (23-6, 16-2 Sun Belt) in the semifinals on Sunday. The opening tip is slated for 12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. ET) and will stream on ESPN+.
Peyton McDaniel led all players with 22 points and added a season-high six steals with five rebounds. Her five boards give her 1,003 in her career, becoming the second Duke to score 2,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds in their career, joining Tamera Young (2004-08), who holds totals of 2,121 points and 1,127 rebounds.
Bree Robinson went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field for 16 points with three steals, placing her second in steals in a single season in program history at 81. Zakiya Stephenson finished with 12 points and six assists with zero turnovers for a +/- of +34. Angela Williams supplied JMU with 11 points and five boards in a career-high 24 minutes off the bench. Delilah Soltys posted eight points with a pair of threes, while Brianna McLeod tied her career high in blocks (5) and came away with four rebounds and a steal in the win.
Three Jaguars scored in double figures, with Amyah Sutton, Daniela Gonzalez, and Alicia Spann all registering 10 points. Diawna Carter-Hartley produced a game-high six rebounds, while Gonzalez finished with five takeaways in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 28, USA 8
• The Dukes held the Jaguars without a made field goal for 4:06 for a 13-7 advantage at the opening media timeout.
• JMU scored 13 straight out of the break to ultimately take a 28-8 lead after one.
Second Quarter – JMU 48, USA 21
• McDaniel added eight points as six Dukes scored in the frame on a combined 7-of-11 (.636) from the field.
• JMU finished the first half shooting 72.0% (18-of-25) from the floor, while limiting the Jaguars to 25.9% (7-of-27).
Third Quarter – JMU 70, USA 34
• McDaniel picked up where she left off, scoring nine points with three steals in the frame.
• The Dukes closed on a 10-0 run over the final 2:34.
Fourth Quarter – JMU 79, USA 54
• South Alabama finished strong, shooting 7-of-13 (.538) from the floor, and forcing the Dukes to commit eight turnovers.
• Delilah Soltys chipped in with five points in the final period.
Game Notes
• James Madison held an advantage in points in the paint (34-26), points off turnovers (21-13), and fast-break points (20-3).
• The Dukes led by as many as 36 (70-34) at the 0:30 mark of the third.
• JMU’s 48 first-half points were the second most by the team this season, behind scoring 49 in the opening 30 minutes against South Alabama on Jan. 31.
• The Dukes shot 100.0% (12-of-12) from the free throw line, marking the first time the team has gone perfect with 10 or more makes from the charity stripe since sinking 13-of-13 against Florida on Nov. 29, 2024.
• Stephenson is the first Duke with six or more assists with zero turnovers since Chloe Sterling did the same against South Alabama on Feb. 7, 2024.
• JMU held USA to just 21 rebounds – the fewest by an opponent this season, and the fewest by the Jaguars in 2025-26.
• The Dukes have won at least one game in 37 out of 41 conference tournaments they’ve appeared in.
• James Madison has held its last seven opponents to 57 points or fewer.
— JMU Athletics —
