BLACKSBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison women’s basketball owned an 11-8 edge at the end of the first quarter, but Virginia Tech outscored the Dukes by 13 (18-5) in the second and held on the rest of the way to hand JMU a 59-43 loss in non-conference action at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday night.

The Dukes (1-2) were limited to 25.9% (15-of-58) from the field and were out-rebounded by the Hokies (3-0), 47-32.

Two Dukes finished in double figures, led by Trinity Moore with 11 points off the bench and Zakiya Stephenson with 10. Moore produced three blocks and hit a pair of triples, while Stephenson tied for the team lead with three assists.

Bree Robinson recorded six points and season highs in rebounds (5) and steals (2). Delilah Soltys registered five points, and Grace McDonough finished the night with four points and four boards in the loss.

Carleigh Wenzel was the lone Hokie to score in double digits (15) and was pestered by the JMU defense, shooting 28.6% (4-of-14) from the field and committing seven turnovers. Jessica Dimaro led all players with 14 rebounds to go with seven points. Samyha Suffren, Kate Sears, and Alyssa Latham all produced eight points in the win.

The Dukes will return to Harrisonburg for a two-game homestand, starting with a matchup against Navy on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The opening tip inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will stream on ESPN+.

How It Happened
First Quarter – JMU 11, VT 8
• After falling behind 8-2 with 3:48 left in the first, the Dukes closed on a 9-0 run, highlighted by six straight points from Moore.
• The Hokies were held to eight points, their fewest in any quarter this season, going 4-for-16 (.250) from the field and 0-for-5 from three.

Second Quarter – VT 26, JMU 16
• Following a Robinson jumper to make it 13-11 Dukes, Virginia Tech responded with a 15-5 scoring advantage to take a 26-16 lead at the intermission.
• The Dukes shot 2-of-13 (.154) from the field, while the Hokies went 3-for-6 (.500) from deep.

Third Quarter – VT 44, JMU 30
• JMU fought back in the third, connecting on 3-for-7 (.429) from three, while Soltys registered five points in the frame.

Fourth Quarter – VT 59, JMU 43
• Back-to-back buckets from McDonough cut the deficit to 12 (46-34) with 8:04 remaining in the contest.
• The Hokies were held to just one of their last seven from the field, but sank 7-of-8 (.875) from the line to keep the Dukes at bay.

Game Notes
• Virginia Tech held an advantage in points in the paint (30-12), bench points (21-18), fast break points (9-4), and second chance points (8-5).
• James Madison is the only mid-major program to hold the Hokies to 60 points or fewer in the regular season in the past five seasons, doing so twice with tonight’s performance and last year’s 65-56 win on Nov. 23 in Harrisonburg.
• JMU won the turnover battle, 18-19.
• Head Coach Sean O’Regan is 45-7 (.865) in games against Commonwealth opponents.
• Moore is the first Duke to record three blocks and knock down at least two three-pointers since Peyton McDaniel went 4-for-8 (.500) with three rejections in the Sun Belt Championship game against Arkansas State on March 10, 2025.

— JMU Athletics —