JMU Dukes Advance to Championship After Dominating Coastal Carolina

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WHSV) – The James Madison Dukes secured their place in the Sun Belt Conference Championship by defeating Coastal Carolina 89-65 in the semifinal game Sunday afternoon. Peyton McDaniel led the charge with a remarkable performance, contributing 24 points and 12 rebounds, marking her 13th double-double of the season.

Head Coach Sean O’Regan praised the team’s effort, stating, “I’m really proud of our team. I thought our effort and focus were elite. That’s what you hope for.” McDaniel’s performance earned her the title of Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season, reinforcing her status as a key player for the Dukes.

Alongside McDaniel, Ashanti Barnes added 14 points, and Annalicia Goodman had 13 points in just 17 minutes of play after Ksyusha Kozlova faced early foul trouble. O’Regan highlighted the team’s cohesion, saying, “I thought our effort and togetherness were there. We had a really good team effort today. We shared the ball really well. Twenty assists are going to win a lot of games.”

The momentum shifted late in the first quarter when JMU was leading 20-12. Coastal Carolina’s top scorer, Savannah Brooks, was ejected after an altercation with JMU’s Ro Scott, which altered the game’s dynamics.

With this victory, James Madison will now face No. 2 Arkansas State in the championship game. The Red Wolves advanced by defeating Troy 81-66. This matchup will mark the first meeting between the two teams. The championship game is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. ET, promising an exciting showdown for fans and players alike.

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