HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — Olivia Olson scored 26 points and Marshall was perfect from the free-throw line to defeat James Madison 83-74 in overtime Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd made all 14 free-throw attempts, including six in overtime, to seal the women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. Marshall, which improved to 11-3, overcame a 21-point first quarter by the Dukes. James Madison’s Ashanti Barnes led all scorers with 21 points. The Dukes led by 11 early but Marshall used a 13-for-30 performance from three-point range to rally. The teams were tied at 67 after regulation. Marshall scored 16 points in the extra period. James Madison, which got 19 points from Peyton McDaniel, fell to 9-5.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Marshall women’s basketball team staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback before dominating overtime to defeat James Madison 83-74 in a nonconference thriller on Saturday at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd, trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half and by nine entering the final quarter, outscored the Dukes 16-9 in the fourth to force the extra period. Marshall then seized complete control in overtime, outscoring James Madison 16-7 in front of 994 fans to secure its 11th win of the season. James Madison, which fell to 9-5, appeared poised to close out a road victory after building a 45-36 halftime lead behind a potent offensive start. The Dukes shot efficiently early, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and 24 in the second. Ashanti Barnes, a 6-foot-2 forward from Norfolk, Virginia, was instrumental in building that lead, finishing with a team-high 21 points. But Marshall’s offense, which struggled for consistency through three quarters, found its rhythm when it mattered most. The Thundering Herd’s turnaround was fueled by precision from beyond the arc and flawless free-throw shooting. Marshall connected on 13 of 30 three-point attempts, a 43.3% clip, and was a perfect 14 for 14 from the foul line. The most pivotal stretch of the game came late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 67-61 with under three minutes to play, Marshall closed regulation on a 6-0 run. Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, who finished with 20 points and seven assists, converted four crucial free throws in the final two minutes, including two with just two seconds remaining to tie the game at 67 and force overtime. The overtime period belonged entirely to the Thundering Herd. Marshall scored the first five points and never looked back, outscoring James Madison 16-7 in the five-minute frame. Olivia Olson, a 5-foot-10 guard from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was the offensive catalyst all afternoon for Marshall, pouring in a game-high 26 points, including a key three-pointer and two free throws in overtime. James Madison’s offense, which managed only nine points in the fourth quarter, went cold in overtime, shooting just 2 of 11 from the field. The Dukes also were hampered by 18 turnovers, which Marshall converted into 27 points. In stark contrast, James Madison managed only six points off an equal number of Marshall turnovers. Beyond the scoring leaders, the game featured a stark contrast in efficiency. Marshall scored 83 points on just 80 possessions, an offensive rating of 104.2. James Madison, despite more shot attempts, scored 74 points on 84 possessions, an offensive rating of 88.0. The Dukes won the battle inside, with 38 points in the paint to Marshall’s 28, and outrebounded the Herd 45-34, including a 13-8 edge on the offensive glass. But Marshall’s superior three-point shooting and ability to capitalize on mistakes proved decisive. For James Madison, Peyton McDaniel of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, added 19 points and Bree Robinson of Mississauga, Canada, contributed nine points and four assists in a full 42 minutes of action. Marshall’ Peyton Ilderton of Logan, West Virginia, added 10 points, while Leyocha Marigney of Fresno, California, anchored the defense with four blocks. The victory extends Marshall’s winning streak to three games and improves its record to 11-3. James Madison sees a two-game win streak snapped as it heads into Sun Belt Conference play. The teams are scheduled to meet again in a conference rematch on Jan. 15 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, James Madison entered the game with a 75.10 percent probability to win. Marshall defied those odds with its late-game execution, showcasing a toughness that has become a hallmark of its strong start to the season. The Thundering Herd’s ability to respond under pressure, coupled with its efficient scoring in crunch time, turned a projected loss into a signature victory.

Preview: James Madison Dukes at Marshall Thundering Herd HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — Two of the Sun Belt Conference’s hottest teams will meet Saturday when the Marshall women’s basketball team hosts James Madison at Cam Henderson Center. The Thundering Herd (10-3) enters on a five-game winning streak, while the Dukes (9-4) have won seven of their last nine. Both teams are coming off tight conference victories last Wednesday. Marshall’s surge has been fueled by the explosive scoring of guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey. She is averaging 24.3 points over her last three games, including a 31-point performance in the 75-62 win over Appalachian State. For the season, Lewis-Eutsey leads the Herd in scoring. James Madison counters with its own dynamic guard in Zakiya Stephenson, who is coming off a 16-point, 3-assist effort in a 71-68 road win at Coastal Carolina. Stephenson has been a consistent facilitator, recording at least three assists in eight games this season. The Dukes’ record includes quality non-conference wins over Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, but also a 78-65 loss to Notre Dame. Marshall’s three losses came against power-conference opponents Indiana, Kentucky and Morehead State. In their most recent outing, Marshall’s Olivia Olson supported Lewis-Eutsey with 18 points against Appalachian State. James Madison received key contributions from Brianna McLeod and Bree Robinson, who each scored 10 points in the win at Coastal Carolina. This matchup is the first of two scheduled meetings between the schools this season. They will play again in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Jan. 15. Saturday’s winner will gain an early advantage in the conference standings as both teams look to build momentum into the new year. Tip-off is scheduled for [TIME] ET.