Big 2nd half lifts JMU past Monarchs
Saturday’s promising first half preceded a disappointing second half for the Old Dominion women as they lost 68-52 to James Madison before 1,929 in Harrisonburg.
Kseniia Kozlova led JMU with 24 points as the Dukes (12-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) won their ninth consecutive game. Kiki Jefferson added 19 points and Peyton McDaniel 15. Jefferson grabbed nine rebounds, while no Monarch had more than five.
The Monarchs (8-7, 0-2 Sun Belt), looking to atone for a head-scratching 81-55 defeat Thursday at Appalachian State, went on a 9-0 burst to take a 31-24 lead against the Dukes in their first “Royal Rivalry Challenge.” Brianna Jackson scored in the lane to put ODU 34-30 at halftime.
But after intermission, ODU turned over the ball five times in the first 3:46. The Dukes scored 14 unanswered points to move ahead 44-34. They never trailed again, and they led by double digits throughout the fourth quarter.
Graduate transfer Jatyjia Jones turned in her best outing as a Monarch, collecting a season-high 12 points and four rebounds. Jordan McLaughlin finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Makayla Dickens also had 11 points with four rebounds and two assists.
“For some reason we’re coming out flat and unfocused [in the second half ] and we start the third quarter with a turnover,” coach DeLisha MiltonJones said on odusports.com. “That’s just a lack of commitment and focus. We allowed this team to dominate us on the glass.”
ODU shot 34% (18 of 53) from the field. The Monarchs were 13 of 21 at the free-throw line, compared to JMU’s 18 of 19.
ODU will play its Sun Belt home opener at 6:30 p.m. Thursday against Louisiana Monroe.
No. 3 Ohio State 66, No. 14 Michigan 57:
Taylor Mikesell scored 16 points and Rikki Harris had 14 as the Buckeyes (15-0, 4-0 Big Ten) came from behind to beat turnover-prone Michigan (12-2, 2-1) in Columbus.
Ohio State has forced at least 20 turnovers in all but two games this season, and Michigan had 27. Cameron Williams paced the Wolverines (12-2, 2-1) with 18 points.
No. 8 Connecticut 61, Marquette 48:
Lou Lopez Senechal had 22 points and Caroline Ducharme added 19 points and seven rebounds for the host Huskies (11-2, 4-0 Big East) against the Golden Eagles (9-5, 2-3).
Aaliyah Edwards had nine points and eight rebounds and Dorka Juhasz added nine points and 10 rebounds for UConn. Liza Carlen had 15 points and six rebounds for Marquette.
UConn used just six players in the first half as leading scorer Azzi Fudd missed another game due to a knee injury and Aubrey Griffin, who has started nine games, was sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19.
No. 20 Oklahoma 98, West Virginia 77: Lake Taylor High alumna JJ Quinerly, a sophomore guard, scored a careerhigh 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting for the host Mountaineers (9-3), though they lost to the Sooners (11-1).
Late Friday
Stony Brook 89, William & Mary 61:
Playing their firstever Colonial Athletic Association game, the Seawolves raced away from the Tribe in the second half before 702 on New York’s Long Island.
Stony Brook led 37-33 at halftime. The Seawolves (7-5, 1-0 CAA) then sank 62% of their shots in the second half, hitting 5 of 7 3-point tries.
W&M (5-7, 0-1) lost despite the return of Kayla Beckwith and Ruthie Montella, who had been out with injuries.
Gigi Gonzalez (17 points) led Stony Brook’s five double-digit scorers.
W&M’s Sydney Wagner had 12 points.
No. 10 UCLA 72, No. 17 Oregon 74: Freshman Kiki Rice had 21 points and seven assists for the visiting Bruins (13-1, 2-0 Pac-12).