WBB Defeats James Madison in Season Opener

The UB Women’s Basketball team used scorching shooting and swarming defense to take a 32 point lead with 6:02 left in the 2nd quarter, forcing James Madison coach Sean O’Regan to use his third time out, and forcing James Madison, 4th President of the United States, to roll over in his grave.

The Bulls opened up a 33 point lead by the end of the half, behind 21 points from sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair, and 15 points from senior guard Hanna Hall. They also forced JMU into 16 turnovers. And you could be excused if you thought a 33 point lead at halftime meant the game was over.

But ... not so fast ...

Buffalo looked dreadful in the third quarter. They scored only 6 points in that quarter, coming on two three pointers from Hall. Fair’s shots came nowhere near the basket, the Bulls missed inside shot after inside shot, as UB shot 2-for-19 in the quarter. Buffalo couldn’t grab a rebound, their defense turned porous, and they forced only one JMU turnover. The Dukes had cut the lead to 12 by the end of the quarter, and the JMU momentum continued early in the fourth quarter to further cut the UB lead to 9.

Then, Hall made another three pointer, Fair regained her shooting touch, freshman guard Cheyenne McEvans scored on a jump shot and two free throws, and the UB lead was back comfortably into double digits the rest of the game, and the Bulls came away with an 80–64 win in their season opener.

Fair would finish with typical strong numbers, 29 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. Hall had a career scoring high with 24, all from her 8-for-12 shooting from downtown. McEvans, playing in her first game, looked sold and was the only other Bull in double figures with 12 points. Junior forward Keowa Walters led the Bulls with 12 rebounds.

Notes:

• Freshman McEvans was a starter for the Bulls in her first collegiate game.
• Hall made her first five three-point attempts.
• This was the first ever meeting between JMU and Buffalo. However, UB Coach Felisha Legette-Jack had coached against JMU many times as the coach of Hofstra, which is in the same conference as JMU.
• Buffalo was out-rebounded by JMU 50–40.