Sun Belt Women's Championship: James Madison blitzes Texas State from deep to take SBC Title

PENSACOLA − Kiki Jefferson had the ball in her possession as the time ticked down at the end of the first half.

After a couple of left-to-right dribbles on the left wing, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year stepped back to fire a 3-pointer, which hit nothing but net. As she ran towards her teammates on the bench, Jefferson let out a roar loud enough for the people in Harrisonburg, Va. to hear.

It was that kind of day for the James Madison women's basketball team.

Behind hot long-distance shooting and an overwhelming third quarter, the Dukes walloped Texas State 81-54 during the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship game on Monday from the Pensacola Bay Center.

James Madison will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, last earning a berth in 2016.

"We had a year where we were building towards this, the whole year since the very beginning," JMU head coach Sean O'Regan said. "I'm just really, really happy that they get to experience this. I couldn't be more proud of them and happy for them that they get to go through this."

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James Madison was the No. 1 seed while the Bobcats were the second seed. The Dukes doubled up as regular season and conference champions in their first season in the Sun Belt after coming over from the Colonial Athletic Association.

Facing a Texas State team that holds opponents to a conference-low 27 percent shooting from three-point territory, the Dukes nailed 12 of 16 attempts from deep.

During a 58-54 victory over the Bobcats on Feb. 16, JMU shot 2-for-18 from deep, but Monday was significantly different story.

"Honestly, I would say it was confidence and great passes from our point guard and our post players," Jefferson said. "Caroline (JMU guard Caroline Germond) or Coach O would be like, 'Let it fly.' And if you get conference from your team, you can't go wrong with it."

No one was dangerous from behind the line than Peyton McDaniel, the SBC's Sixth Woman of the Year.

Coming off the bench, the 6-foot junior guard from Birdsboro, Pa. didn't miss from long range, setting a single-game career high with seven 3-pointers. She tied a career high with a game-high 30 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the field.

McDaniel says she didn't remember a moment when she realized she had it going, but like Jefferson, she used her team's encouragement to 'let it fly.'

"Obviously, the first two games, I didn't shoot it well, but they had no doubt in me," McDaniel said. "They stayed believing and helped me believe in myself."

"I think it's surreal. In high school, I never got to cut down the net, nothing like that. And just knowing the fight that we put in all year, it's just worth it."

Following a 3-pointer from Bobcats guard Taelour Pruitt, the game was tied 19-19 midway through the second quarter before McDaniel caught fire with three-straight makes from behind the arc to bump JMU back up 28-19.

Leading 38-28 at halftime, the Dukes expanded their cushion behind a 9-2 run to open the second half, capped by an easy layup from Jefferson, who finished with 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting.

McDaniel and Jefferson outscored Texas State 53-51. McDaniel was named to the All-Tournament Team while Jefferson was named to the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

James Madison won the third quarter 22-9. Texas State was limited to 4-for-17 shooting during that frame.

Overall, the Bobcats were slowed to 33 percent shooting.

"This was a tough one because I didn't feel like we played our best. James Madison for sure showed up and they played their best." Texas State head coach Zenarae Antoine said. "With (McDaniel) coming in, we talked a lot, well as much as we can with a quick turnaround, about the fact that she was Sixth Woman of the Year and she showed that today. She shot phenomenally and we weren't able to stop the bleeding."

Da'Nasia Hood poured in 15 points to lead the Bobcats. Kennedy Taylor added 10 points. Hood and Pruitt each were named to All-Tournament team.

As much as their marksmanship was the difference, the Dukes struggled offensively in the early going. They missed seven of their first eight shots and were limited to 4-for-18 shooting in the first quarter.

However, JMU controlled the glass in the opening period, out-rebounding Texas State 14-10. Thanks to seven offensive rebounds, the Dukes earned a number of extra possessions before eventually gaining traction. They shot 50 percent or better in each of the final three quarters.

James Madison finished with a 46-31 rebounding advantage. Ksenii Kozlova had a game-best 10 rebounds (seven offensive) to go with nine points. McDaniel added nine boards.

"I thought we set the tone really early defensively and on the glass. And that's what we try to do all the time," O'Regan said. "What I preach a lot is you can't control your offense, you can really control your defense and your effort on the glass."

James Madison will learn who it faces as the March Madness bracket will be revealed during the NCAA Selection Show at 8 p.m. EST Sunday.

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Sun Belt Women's Championship: James Madison blasts Texas State to earn NCAA berth