Comeback kids

Dukes erase 16-point, second-half deficit; beat Towson 69-68

Jonathan Taylor / contributing photographer Sophomore guard Lesley Dickinson shoots over Towson forward Tierra Jackson during JMU's 69-68 win over the Tigers Thursday night at the Convocation Center. Dickinson finished with a career-high 26 points.

Coming into Thursday night, Lesley Dickinson’s shot had been everywhere but the basket. In her previous four games, she was 12-55 from the floor. However, despite her struggles, Dickinson’s free-throw stroke hadn’t suffered.

The sophomore guard is third in the Colonial Athletic Association in free-throw percentage, shooting 85 percent from the stripe.

Against Towson University Thursday night, Dickinson continued her consistency from the charity stripe. She drained two free throws with nine seconds to play to lift the Dukes over the Tigers, 69-68, before 1,031 at the Convocation Center.

"I was real nervous," Dickinson said. "It was real funny though because earlier, I came in and shot free throws with Coach [Nadine] Morgan. She was going through different situations, and tonight I just stepped up and knocked them down."

Those free throws weren’t the only big shots Dickinson knocked down. The Queens Village, NY, native hit them all game — especially in the second half.

After falling behind early, Dickinson helped spark a comeback that saw JMU rally from 16 points down midway in the second half.

She scored 17 points after the break on her way to a game, and career-high 26, while going 11 of 18 from the floor and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.

"[Dickinson] kept us in it till we could make a run," JMU coach Kenny Brooks said. "She put us on her shoulders and carried us till we could make a comeback."

Early on, it was all Towson. The Tigers led for nearly the entire game, taking the lead at the 18:05 mark in the first half and not relinquishing it until there were nine seconds left to play.

After a Duke rally, which saw JMU cut the lead from 16 to 1 on baskets from seven different players, the Tigers led 68-67 with 33 seconds to go. Then Towson’s Alis Freeman was called on a travel, giving JMU the ball.

On the inbounds play, Dickinson was fouled by Kelly Robinson, sending Dickinson to line where she hit both free throws, putting JMU up 69-68.

"We played really hard and together," Dickinson said. "We shot real well and buckled down when we had to."

After Dickinson’s free throws, the Dukes did just that at the other end – keeping the Tigers from scoring by forcing a missed shot and two failed inbounds plays.

"When you deal with a 1-point game, it’s about turnovers. It’s about players stepping up and making the clutch free throws."

Also coming big for the Dukes was Tamera Young. The freshman forward added 19 points to the winning cause.

Together, Young and Dickinson combined for 45 of JMU’s 69 points.

"You have to give credit to Madison," Towson’s Brandi Harris said. "They did a great job coming back and had some big players. [Young] and [Dickinson] stepped up."

Offensively, Towson was led by Tierra Jackson who scored 23.

JMU continues play Wednesday when they visit Drexel University in a CAA matchup. Game time is 7 p.m. at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Towson  40 28 — 68
JMU       32 37 — 69

Towson (4-4 CAA, 11-8) — Tierra Jackson 23, Kelly Robinson 15, Brandi Harris, Alis Freeman 9, Kelli Talbot 18, LaShay Rose 2, Tanya West, Tina Hopkins, Erin Gaston. Totals 27 19-23 68. 3-point goals: Robinson 3, Talbot 2.

JMU (4-4 CAA, 11-6) — Tamera Young 19, Meredith Alexis 9, Andrea Benvenuto 1, Mary Beth Culberton 3, Lesley Dickinson 26, Shirley McCall 6, Shameena Felix 2, Nina Uqdah 1, Krystal Brooks 2. Totals 31 12-20 69. 3-point goals: Young 3, Culbertson, Dickinson.