Box Score Box score

Northeastern opened conference play with a 84-61 loss to James Madison at the JMU Convocation Center on Sunday, Jan. 2. The Dukes now hold an 11-0 all-time record against the Huskies, who move to 5-7 (0-1 CAA) on the season. JMU improves to 8-5 1(1-0 CAA).

Junior Kashaia Cannon led the Huskies with 17 points and six rebounds, while classmate Jamie Conroy chipped in 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Christine Huber also scored in double-digits, posting 11 points and five rebounds for Northeastern.

Freshman Jewel Tunstull came off the bench for six points and five rebound and sophomore Afreyea Tolbert added nine points and five rebounds.

James Madison's Dawn Evans led all players with 31 points and Lauren Whitehurst notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tarik Hislop posted 12 points while Nikki Newman pulled down 10 board for the Dukes.

JMU scored following the opening tip then stole the ball on the Huskies' first possession to open the game with a 4-0 run. JMU pushed its lead out to 12-0 before Conroy got the Huskies on the board with a jumper at 15:49 and  Tiffany Crews scored off a layup on the next possession.

Cannon's jumper from the top of the key closed the gap to within single digits, 16-10, with 12:30 left in the half, but three consecutive baskets from the Dukes extended the margin to 20-12 at the timeout on the floor called at 10:27.

Huber's jumper cut the Dukes' lead to six before Debbie Smith sunk a pair of free throws for JMU, making it 22-14. The Huskies' full-court press led to a steal for Tolbert, who drove to the basket for a layup. Conroy's field goal brought the Huskies within four with 7:31 to play in the half.

Layups from Huber and Tunstull kept the Huskies wtihin six. JMU regained an eight-point lead, sending the teams into a timeout at 3:56 with the Dukes holding a 31-23 advantage.

Cannon drilled a three from the left wing following the break and Evans then hit the same shot for the Dukes on the other end of the floor. Cannon then forced a turnover on the Dukes' end of the floor and drove to the basket, where her layup rolled in. The Dukes hit two free throws before the half ended and the teams headed to the locker rooms with JMU holding a 37-30 advantage.

Northeastern opened the scoring in the second half with a Conroy feed to Huber for a layup. The Dukes failed to score on their first three possession of the half, but Evans put JMU on the board with a deep three from the top of the arc. Tolbert was fouled while driving to the basket and converted on her first opportunity from the stripe, making it 42-33 Dukes.

Huber nailed a jumper and Tunstull's field goal paced the Huskies, but a layup from Evans pushed the Dukes lead back out to double-digits, 48-37, with 15:24 left on the clock. A 9-0 run by the Dukes gave JMU a 20-point lead before Conroy ended Northeastern's scoreles-drought with a jumper.

Deanna Kerkhof scored her first points of the afternoon with a three-pointer just before a timeout taken at 11:42, with JMU leading 57-42. The Dukes extended the margin to 64-47 before Cannon drove to the basket and was fouled while shooting. She converted the three-point play, putting the Huskies within 14 with just over eight minutes left on the clock.

The Dukes embarked on a 6-1 run to go ahead 70-53 with under six minutes to play. Another three from Evans pushed the Dukes lead back out to 20 points before a pair of free throws from Cannon and one from Huber made it 73-56.

Evans' fourth three-pointer of the afternoon gave the Dukes a 76-58 lead with 3:15 left on the clock. Conroy drove to the basket and drew the foul, sending her to the line to complete the three-point play. Another three from Evans' pushed the Dukes' lead to 81-61 with less than a minute left in the game.

Two Northeastern fouls paved the way for two pairs of free throws for the Dukes and JMU took the 84-61 victory. 

Northeastern was attempted a season-high 64 field goals, but only managed to convert on 23 chances for a 35.9 percent mark. The Dukes shot 49.2 percent from the field.

The rebounding margin was even, at 39-all, but the Huskies committed 22 turnovers to JMU's 16.

Northeastern returns to Boston to face Delaware on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Fans can follow all the action via live stats and live video on GoNU.TV.