Evans keys JMU upset

  
Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com
JMU sports: www.jmusports.com

James Madison guard Dawn Evans matched a career-high with 38 points to key an upset of the 14th-ranked Virginia women’s basketball team, 75-73. Monica Wright led the Cavaliers with 31 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Virginia’s record went to 6-2 with the loss, while JMU remained undefeated and improved its record to 6-0.

Evans connected on 10-of-24 field goals, made five three-pointers and was 13-of-14 from the free throw line to score the highest points total ever in JPJA. 

In the first half, James Madison took its largest lead, 36-24, on a three-pointer by Courtney Hamner at the 3:53 mark. Evans, meanwhile, scored 20 points in the first stanza to lead JMU to a 39-34 halftime lead.

Virginia took back the lead at 14:47 left in the second half, on a three-pointer by Telia McCall that put the Cavaliers up, 46-45. The Cavaliers clung to their advantage until the 10-minute mark, when JMU tied the score at 56-56 on a jumpshot by Sarah Williams.

The Dukes took the lead on a lay-up by Jalissa Taylor, 58-56, with 7:10 left to play, and never relinquished the lead again. Virginia, trailing by two with 43.1 seconds left, forced a turnover by Evans and got the ball back, but the ensuing trip down court did not result in a basket, and the Cavaliers were forced to foul. Evans missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Wright’s halfcourt shot with time expiring was off the mark.

Wright’s double-double was her second of the season and the 10th of her career. Ariana Moorer scored 18 points, one shy of her career-high.

Paulisha Kellum added nine points, five rebounds and four assists for the Cavs.

It was JMU’s first victory over UVa since a first-round win in the 1986 NCAA Tournament (71-62 at University Hall).