By Katherine Jamtgaard. HARRISONBURG, Va. — The App State women’s basketball team fell short to James Madison, 77-61, on the road on Thursday.
“JMU really controlled this game tonight. We had a slow start offensively and it seemed to suck the life out of us,” said head coach Alaura Sharp. “Their defense was really packed in and they have great length. It’s important for our team to learn how to break down a defense like that. I thought we had some good moments as a group but consistency is key when playing a great team like (JMU).”
For a fourth game this season, senior Mara Neira led the Mountaineers, netting 18 points and draining four of App State’s eight treys. Junior Emily Hege netted 11 points and knocked down two 3-point buckets for the Mountaineers. App State’s top rebounder on the night was senior Emily Carver (8 rebounds). Senior Eleyana Tafisi dished out a team-high seven assists and made a team-high seven steals. App State netted 31 points off the bench and 11 second chance points. The Mountaineers also held the Dukes to five treys and four second chance points.
James Madison led early in the first quarter and maintained the lead through the duration of play. A jumper from Hege put the Mountaineers on the board to cut JMU’s lead to 5-2. Neira got around the defense for a layup and later drained a trey for the Black and Gold, but it wasn’t enough as JMU took a 15-7 lead at the close of the quarter.
Senior Zada Porter opened the second quarter with a three-point play. Carver and fellow senior Samantha LaFon, who netted a season-high eight points on the night, combined for nine of App State’s 15 points in the quarter. Carver drained a trey and LaFon got to the hoop for a pair of layups to cut into JMU’s 27-17 lead. Despite a trey from Neira and a Carver layup, the Dukes took a 36-22 lead into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Hege went on a 7-0 run of her own, knocking down back-to-back treys as well as an and one free throw. The Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run over 1:08 as Tafisi completed a three-point play, Neira made a layup, and Pericic drilled a trey. Junior Rylan Moffitt landed a jumper and Carver completed her own three-point play to chip away at the deficit (53-42). Despite trailing 55-42 at the close of the quarter, App State never turned the ball over and caused six JMU turnovers during the period.
Hege opened the fourth quarter with a jumper before the Dukes extended the deficit. Neira and LaFon combined for 12 of App State’s points in the quarter. The Mountaineers made a late 8-0 surge over 0:28, which included a layup from LaFon and back-to-back 3-point buckets from Neira, but it wasn’t enough as JMU sealed the win, 77-61.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will head to Atlanta, Ga. for a rematch against Georgia State at 5 p.m. on Saturday. App State will return to Boone to host Marshall on Feb. 19 and James Madison on Feb. 22.
