HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — James Madison dominated Marshall 80-43 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday at JMU Convocation Center before 1,929 fans. The Dukes avenged an overtime loss to the Thundering Herd from December. James Madison seized control with a 27-2 first quarter and never relented. Ashanti Barnes scored 18 points for the Dukes, while Bree Robinson added 19 and Peyton McDaniel had 18. Marshall, which shot just 2-for-16 from the floor in the opening period, was led by TreShondra Williams’ seven points. The Dukes improved to 12-7. Marshall fell to 15-4.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of defensive pressure and offensive efficiency, the James Madison women’s basketball team avenged an early-season overtime loss with a decisive 80-43 victory over Marshall on Thursday night at the JMU Convocation Center. The Dukes, improving to 12-7 overall, set the tone from the opening tip and never relented, holding the Thundering Herd to a season-low in points. Marshall, which entered the contest with a 15-3 record and had won eight of its last nine, including a thrilling 83-74 overtime win over these same Dukes just under a month ago, was overwhelmed from the outset. The loss dropped Marshall to 15-4. The most critical phase of the game was its inception. James Madison erupted for 27 points in the first quarter while constructing a suffocating defensive wall that limited Marshall to a mere two points. The Dukes opened the game on a 22-2 run, capitalizing on early Marshall misses and turnovers to fuel their transition attack. The period was a showcase for the trio of Ashanti Barnes, Bree Robinson and Peyton McDaniel, who combined for 23 of those first-quarter points. Marshall missed 12 of its first 13 shots from the field and committed five turnovers in the frame, digging a hole from which it could not recover. James Madison’s dominance was comprehensive. The Dukes scored 44 points in the paint compared to Marshall’s 20 and converted 19 points off turnovers while allowing only four. The defensive intensity forced Marshall into a 2-for-17 shooting performance in the decisive first quarter and disrupted any semblance of offensive rhythm for the visitors throughout the night. Barnes, a 6-foot-2 forward from Norfolk, Virginia, led all scorers with 18 points, adding three assists. Robinson, a guard from Mississauga, Canada, orchestrated the offense with 19 points and four assists, while McDaniel, from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, contributed 18 points, three assists and a block. The Dukes’ ball movement was sharp, with point guard Zakiya Stephenson of Virginia Beach dishing out seven assists to go with three steals. Marshall, which managed only 17 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third, struggled to find consistent offense. Leyocha Marigney of Fresno, California, provided a defensive presence with four blocks, but the Thundering Herd shot under 30 percent from the field for the game. TreShondra Williams came off the bench to lead Marshall with seven points. The victory was a significant bounce-back for James Madison, which had dropped its previous two games in overtime and on the road. For Marshall, the lopsided result halted momentum from a strong start to Sun Belt Conference play and served as a stark reminder of the challenge posed by a motivated James Madison squad on its home floor. An announced crowd of 1,929 watched as the Dukes maintained a double-digit lead for the final 38 minutes of the contest, methodically extending their advantage each quarter. The win shifts James Madison’s focus to a home matchup against Georgia Southern on Saturday. Marshall will look to regroup quickly with a road game at Old Dominion the same day.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A surging Marshall team looks to extend its winning streak and solidify its Sun Belt Conference standing when it visits James Madison on Thursday night in a rematch of a thrilling overtime game from last month. The Thundering Herd (15-3) have won seven straight, including an 83-74 overtime victory over the Dukes on Dec. 20. James Madison (11-7), meanwhile, seeks to halt a two-game skid and avenge that earlier loss on its home court at the JMU Convocation Center. Marshall’s success has been fueled by guard Peyton Ilderton, who is coming off a 20-point, 5-assist performance in an 80-74 win over Coastal Carolina on Jan. 10. In the first meeting against James Madison, Ilderton contributed 10 points and four assists. Her consistent playmaking will be central to the Herd’s offensive plans. The Dukes will counter with their own standout, Peyton McDaniel, who posted 21 points and seven rebounds in a tough 72-70 overtime loss at Georgia State last Saturday. McDaniel was a force in the December loss to Marshall, scoring 19 points in 42 minutes. Her matchup with Ilderton will be a key focal point. James Madison has shown resilience at home this season, including notable nonconference wins over VCU and Boston College. Protecting their home floor is paramount as they aim to climb the conference standings. For Marshall, this game begins a challenging stretch of road contests. Maintaining their momentum away from home will test the Herd’s depth and composure. The December encounter proved these teams are evenly matched, requiring an extra period to decide a winner. With both teams featuring dynamic scorers and seeking critical conference momentum, another tightly contested battle is anticipated in Harrisonburg. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 15.