Dukes break three-game losing streak

Amy Paterson / photo editor Sophomore center Meredity Alexis goes to the basket against Drexel.

Lesley Dickinson has been in a bit of a shooting slump as of late. The sophomore guard came into Sunday’s matinee against Drexel University fresh off a 2-14 performance Thursday in JMU’s overtime loss to George Mason University. In the previous two games combined before that, she went 10 for 38 from the floor.

Sunday, against the Dragons, Dickinson made amends with one shot. The 5-foot-10-inch, Queens Village, N.Y., native knocked down a mid-range jumper with 10 seconds to play that put JMU up by the final, 50-48, in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup at the Convocation Center.

Sunday, Dickinson was 4-15 in field goals.

"I was ready to get the ball and make the shot," Dickinson said. "I have been in a funk, and I’m glad if I can make any shot, it just so happened that this one went in."

Behind Dickinson’s basket, the Dukes avoided their fourth-straight CAA loss. Thursday, it was GMU beating Madison, 50-48. Jan. 9, JMU dropped a double-overtime affair to Virginia Commonwealth University, 86-76 and Jan. 6, it was Old Dominion University dispatching the Dukes, 70-58.

"I didn’t want us to lose another game," JMU coach Kenny Brooks said. "I had some doubts sometimes though. The end of the game was a very similar situation to the VCU game. It was like groundhog day."

With 2:03 to play, JMU led by 5 after a Meredith Alexis basket underneath put the Dukes up 48-43. The sophomore center finished with a double-double, compiling a team leading 11 points and 15 rebounds. In the first half, Alexis out rebounded Drexel by herself, grabbing 11 to the Dragons’ nine.

Alexis, however, was only one of JMU’s leading scorers. Dickinson and freshman forward Tamera Young also posted 11 points. Drexel’s Catherine Scanlon led all scorers with 13 points.

"I had no clue I did that," Alexis said of her rebounding performance against the Dragons. "I just grabbed them. That’s my job."

After Alexis’ basket, Drexel came back with two lay-ups that put the Dragons within 1 point with 59 seconds to go. With 37 seconds to play, Drexel’s Nicole Hester was fouled and went to line to shoot a one-and-one.

Hester hit both, but the second was overruled because Scanlon jumped early and found herself in the paint before the ball left Hester’s hand.

"I just got a little excited," Scanlon said. "I don’t really want to think about it. The way I position myself is different from other people to be a little quicker and this time, I was too quick."

Instead of being up 1, 49-48, the negated free throw left the contest tied, 48-48, ready for Dickinson’s game-winning shot.

"We were all sitting on the bench saying, ‘We’re not going through this again,’" Alexis said. "We’re not going to lose another one."

The Women’s basketball team continues play Wednesday, when the Dukes travel to Hempstead, N.Y., for a 7 p.m. CAA matchup with Hofstra University.

Drexel: 21 27 — 48
JMU:   26 24 — 50

Drexel (2-2 CAA, 8-5) — Katrina Martin 5, Candice Williams 6, Kira Karlstrom 8, Catherine Scanlon 13, Narissa Suber 33, Stay McCullough, Nicole Hester 8, Anora Suber. Totals 16 12-21 48. Three-point goals: Suber 2, Karlstrom, Hester.

JMU (2-3 CAA, 9-5) — Tamera Young 11, Shirley McCall 9, Meredith Alexis 11, Andrea Benvenuto, Lesley Dickinson 11, Shameena Felix, Krystal Brooks 5, Mary Beth Culbertson 3, Nina Uqdah. Totals 19 11-15 50. Three-point goals: Culbertson.