PHOTO COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETICS

The Arkansas State women’s basketball team beat out James Madison University in a close game, pulling away in the fourth quarter. 

Though the team struggled to find its momentum early, the Red Wolves swapped directions, opting for a defensive push and improved their scoring in the second half, resulting in a 74-67 final score.

The JMU Dukes walked into this game with a score to settle. In the prior season, A-State beat JMU during overtime, breaking their 20-game win streak in order to secure the Sun Belt Championship title. 

From tipoff, the team continuously pushed the pace and dug for every loose ball, coming out with a higher energy level than the Red Wolves. The Dukes scored in the paint early on, led by their guard Grace Kingery, who forced several turnovers, leaving JMU with more easy scoring opportunities. 

Given the Red Wolves’ encounter with the Dukes last season, this aggressive spark comes as no surprise.

On the other hand, the Red Wolves continuously failed to establish any rhythm as a team. They consistently shot cold throughout the court, shooting just 30.77% from the field in the first quarter, unable to even complete simple layups beneath the rim. 

One strength the team maintained during the first quarter was possessing the ball through pressuring passes. Guard Crislyn Rose carried much of the team’s early scoring, contributing 6 of her eventual 9 points before halftime, helping the team stay within reach. However, the Dukes were still winning battles in the paint and converting consistently, shooting a strong 55.6% from the field. 

Moving into the second quarter, the Red Wolves still could not complete easy shots, particularly around the basket and during simple passes. The Dukes continued to maintain their lead by dominating rebounding, especially offensive boards, which led to more second-chance points. Guard Peyton McDaniel and forward Ashati Barnes led the offense, with McDaniel scoring 21 points and Barnes adding 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Furthermore, forward Wynter Rogers struggled to make an impact during the first half. Typically a reliable player for the Red Wolves, Rogers was subbed out a total of four times. She ended up losing control on a pressured pass early into the first quarter, missed a layup underneath the basket and seemed out of sync with the rest of the team’s attempts at an offensive flow. Even though she eventually managed to score and grab a couple rebounds, her early failures contributed to the Red Wolves’ slow start and forced the Red Wolves to rely on other players to stabilize the offense.

Once halftime hit, the Red Wolves were already trailing behind in the double digits with a score of 35-25, and were unable to establish a lead at any point during the game thus far. 

However, the difficulty within the team wasn’t just what was being shown on the scoreboard. The Red Wolves seemed to have lacked their usual flow. 

Just a few days earlier, the Red Wolves looked much closer to the team their fans expected going into this game. They dominated against Old Dominion 84-55, holding the Monarchs to just 25% shooting overall and out-rebounded them by 49-39, vastly different from the somewhat disorganized start against the Dukes. 

After their performance during the first half, it seemed plausible that the Red Wolves’ streak of home victories might come to an end. 

Yet, when the Red Wolves finally stepped back out onto the court, they brought a renewed sense of energy with them. This energy immediately translated into a tighter defense and more aggressive plays on the offense. 

In the third quarter, while the Dukes kept their lead, the Red Wolves began to finish more effectively inside the paint. This initiative was primarily led by Rose, whose drives and layups provided the team with much-needed points. 

Meanwhile, other players like guards Marlie Dickerson and Mia Tarver were still struggling from mid-range and beyond the arc. Tarver missed all of her three-pointer attempts, and Dickerson missed two out of her three mid-range attempts.

As the gap between the two teams closed, so did the momentum. The Dukes began to hesitate on shots they would normally make and missed on several of the attempts they did take, connecting on only 5 of 12 field goals.

With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Red Wolves were able to push forward and take the lead as their defense finally tightened things up. After allowing guard Zyion Shannon to sink a key three-point basket, the fans’ hope for a Red Wolf victory was revived. 

The Dukes, who had maintained a tight grip on the boards, began to slow down, finally allowing the Red Wolves an opportunity to take control.

A team foul on the Dukes set up an easy layup by Dickerson, while the Red Wolves continued to put up a fight for loose balls. The Dukes were determined to find their way back, though the Red Wolves’ defense held firm, contesting every shot made in the paint.

This aggression from the Red Wolves paid off. Dickerson attacked the paint once more and the team secured rebounds on critical possessions. Rose continued to show out as a star player, increasing their overall lead while keeping the Dukes at bay. 

In the home stretch, the Red Wolves held a seven-point advantage, and the Dukes were unable to score on their final possessions, allowing the Red Wolves to close out the game and hold the lead until the final buzzer. 

This win continues the Red Wolves’ home game dominance and spotlights their ability to shift the tide after a rough first half.

The A-State women’s basketball team will look to learn from the mistakes made during this game, going into its next matchup against Georgia State on Thursday, Jan 29.

Categories: Sports