Dukes Top Tribe on Senior Night
March 1, 2010 • By Wes Shaw, The Breeze
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The first time the JMU women’s basketball team traveled to Williamsburg, it was upset by William & Mary. Sunday afternoon, with one major addition, Madison was able to hold off the Tribe and all but solidify the No. 2 seed in next week’s conference tournament.
Dawn Evans had 25 points after missing the Feb. 11 matchup with an ankle injury, and the Dukes (22-6 overall and 12-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association) defeated W&M (9-19, 4-13) 71-59 in their final home game of the regular season.
Twenty of Evans’ 25 points came after the half, providing the Dukes with the closer they lacked in the first matchup this season. She also notched 10 of JMU’s final 16 points.
“It’s just crucial times of the game, I want to be that person my teammates can depend on,” JMU’s junior point guard said. “That’s just the bottom line.”
William & Mary coach Debbie Taylor was pleased by her team’s defensive effort against Evans, knowing it has become close to impossible to prevent her late-game offensive runs at the Convocation Center.
“You know it’s gonna happen,” Taylor said. “Dawn’s a great player; she’s gonna score. You’re lucky if she scores 25 instead of 35.”
JMU honored its only senior, Sarah Williams prior to Sunday’s game in front of a season-high crowd of 4,782. Williams spent her junior and senior seasons in a JMU uniform after transferring from Richmond in 2007.
JMU coach Kenny Brooks shared an emotional embrace with Williams and her mother before the game.
“I was very happy for Sarah. I was very proud of Sarah,” Brooks said. “She’s really enhanced my abilities as a coach. She’s one of the smartest kids I’ve ever coached.”
Williams had a hot hand following the ceremony, leading the Dukes with 13 points at the half. She shot 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 from behind the arc, while adding two assists in the half’s final minutes.
“I think I was just feeling good,” Williams, who ended with 15 points and five rebounds, said. “It was emotional, and thankfully I turned it around in a positive way.”
When asked to reflect upon her time at JMU and the decision to leave Richmond, Williams didn’t hesitate.
“To be honest, I couldn’t be happier. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” the Wilmington, Del., native said. “I’m honored to be part of this program, and I’m honored to play here.”
Sunday’s game was not as one-sided as the final score might indicate. The Dukes committed 18 turnovers and lacked rhythm at times, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
This late in the season Brooks is satisfied with a win any way he can get it. But he knows the importance of keeping pace while heading into the conference tournament and potentially the NCAA tournament after that.
“It’s extremely important to get the wins, as we’re in a tight race,” Brooks said. “The ultimate goal is to get the win, but we’re trying to pride ourselves right now on getting momentum going into the tournament.”
JMU will close out its season with last-place George Mason on Wednesday.
After returning from Fairfax, the Dukes will have more than a week to prepare for the CAA tournament, which will be held in Harrisonburg. As one of the league’s top four teams, JMU will earn a first-round bye and play its first game Friday, March 8.
Contact Wes Shaw at shawwr@gmail.com
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