TA alum leads JMU to win in women’s hoops

James Madison junior forward Nikki Newman (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby) finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double to lead the Dukes to their 15th straight home win, a 71-64 victory overCentral Connecticut State in women’s basketball Sunday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.

JMU improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 at home this season. Central Connecticut’s record is 6-3.

Newman was one of four Dukes in double figures, led by redshirt senior forward Lauren Whitehurst (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) with 17 and sophomore guard Kirby Burkholder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) and junior guard Tarik Hislop (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) with 16 apiece.

Central Connecticut junior center Kirsten Daamen (Merrimac, Mass./Pentucket Regional) finished with a game-high 23 points and was joined in double figures by junior guardJaclyn Babe (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) with 16 and sophomore guard Jessica Babe(Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) with 10.