HARRISONBURG, Virginia – Junior guard
Precious Hall (Maclay School/Tallahassee, Fla.) scored 19 of her game-high 25 points in the first half as defending Colonial Athletic Association champion James Madison (11-2, 2-0) surged to an early lead en route to a 74-57 victory over UNCW (5-8, 1-1) at the JMU Convocation Center on Tuesday evening.
After the Dukes sprinted out to an 8-2 lead in the opening three minutes of the first half, the Seahawks scored five consecutive points, including a three-point field goal by senior guard
Kelva Atkins (Granville Central H.S./Stem, N.C.), to narrow the gap to 8-7 with 16:15 remaining.
But, James Madison scored 20 of the next 25 points to extend the advantage to 28-12 with 8:26 left on a jumper by senior forward
Toia Giggetts (Lake Taylor H.S./Norfolk, Va.).
The Dukes maintained a double-digit advantage through the final eight minutes and held a 46-35 advantage at the intermission.
After James Madison extended the lead to 50-35 in the first minute of the second half, the Seahawks went on a 12-5 run over the next six minutes to narrow the gap to 55-47 with 12:47 left on a jumper by junior guard
Shatia Cole (Myrtle Beach H.S./Myrtle Beach, S.C.). Sophomore guard
Brie Mobley (Winter Haven H.S./Winter Haven, Fla.) and Cole each scored six points during the run.
However, the Seahawks were unable to get any closer as the Dukes extended their advantage to as many as 20 points in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Hall, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, made 9 of 15 shots from the floor, including a 6-for-7 from three-point range, to lead the Dukes to the victory. She also added 10 rebounds for her first "double double" of the season.
Meanwhile, senior center
Lauren Okafor (Hopkins School/Hamden, Conn.) added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Dukes, who earned the 1,000th win in program history.
Atkins led the Seahawks by scoring 18 points with three rebounds and two assists. She made six of nine field goal attempts, including both of her tries from three-point range, along with a 4-for-6 effort from the free throw line. Mobley came off the bench to score 14 points, including 12 in the second half.
The Seahawks will return home on Friday, Jan. 9 to host the College of Charleston at Trask Coliseum. Opening tip-off between the Seahawks and the Cougars is slated for 11:30 a.m. in the second "Seahawks Tomorrow" game of the season.
