VAUGHN DROPS 26, BUT JAMES MADISON HOLDS OFF VCU, 73-63
12-3-06
Box Score

HARRISONBURG , Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University junior forward Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton-Eastern) (pictured) pumped in a career-high 26 points, but James Madison’s home-winning streak rolled on in a 73-63 Dukes’ victory Sunday at the JMU Convocation Center.

With the loss, VCU (6-1, 0-1) saw its six-game winning streak halted. Meanwhile, JMU moved to 4-1 on the year and 1-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes have won 16-consecutive games on their home floor and own the last four decisions in their series with the Rams.

Vaughn, whose previous career high was 25 points, connected on 10-of-16 shots on the floor and hauled in six rebounds. It is her third consecutive game with 20 or more points. Freshman forward D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga./Norcross) added 15 points and four boards for the Black and Gold.

The Rams were without the services of sophomore center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va./ Great Bridge), who missed her first career game with a sprained ankle.

James Madison’s Tamera Young touched up VCU for a career-best 28 points for the second straight meeting. She also had 28 in the last game between the two schools, an 80-67 JMU win at the Siegel Center Feb. 3. Dukes’ center Meredith Alexis registered her 45 th career double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds Sunday.

James Madison led 29-25 at halftime, but used an 11-2 burst to open the second period to seize a 40-27 advantage. Alexis scored the Dukes’ first seven points of the half, including a traditional three-point play at the 18:08 mark that pushed the score to 34-27.

VCU whittled the Madison lead down to 48-42 when Moss canned a jumper with 9:30 showing. However, JMU’s Jasmin Lawrence knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer at the 9:08 mark, and Alexis and Young followed with back-to-back buckets that made it 55-42 with 7:32 remaining.

The Rams’ last salvo came in the form of a 12-3 burst, including six from Vaughn, that cut the score to 68-61 with 51.7 seconds on the scoreboard. But the Dukes converted 5-of-6 free throws in the final 48 seconds to seal VCU’s fate.

The Black and Gold hit 50 percent (24-of-48) from the floor in the game, but were out rebounded (37-30) and turned the ball over a season-high 24 times. James Madison shot 43 percent (25-of-58) from the field Sunday, including 54 percent (14-of-26) in the second half.

VCU returns to the floor on Wednesday, Dec. 6 for its annual clash with crosstown rival Richmond at the Robins Center at 7 p.m.