Dukes ground Eagles

Kevan MacIver / senior photographer Freshman forward Tamera Young scored 16 points in JMU's 66-54 win over Coppin State Tuesday.

Fresh off a tournament championship in the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 26 and 27, the JMU women’s basketball team continued its winning ways Tuesday, dropping visiting Coppin State 66-54 before 650 at the Convocation Center.

Tuesday was JMU’s first home game after its season-opening loss 80-67 to Virginia Tech Nov. 23.

"A win is a win and I can’t complain," sophomore center Meredith Alexis said. "But, we went out and played flat. We need to pick it up in practice."

A win may be a win, but languid play is certainly not preferred in the eyes of a coach.

"It definitely was not our best effort," third-year JMU coach Kenny Brooks said. "We were very lethargic in the first half and you can’t do that against Coppin."

The Dukes picked it up after the intermission, outscoring the Lady Eagles 31-17 in the second half. JMU would go into the locker rooms down by 2 on the legs of a late Coppin State push that saw it go on a 12-0 run and usurp the lead, 31-25.

"In the first half, we just executed on our plays," Coppin State forward Sherrie Tucker said. "In the second half, we didn’t execute any of our plays."

Tucker was the game’s leading scorer with 20 points, 16 of which came in that first half.

"We didn’t know that she could shoot that well," Alexis said.

Offensively, freshman forward Tamera Young kept the Dukes close with 12 points and finished as Madison’s leading scorer with 16 – including 5 rebounds and 3 steals. It was her second-straight game with 16 points.

"Tamera Young was the difference with her athleticism," Coppin State coach Derek Brown said. "When [JMU] came out of their sets, she came to the open area and relieved pressure. She’s six-one and quick."

So far, the true freshman is averaging 13 points a game and 6.7 rebounds, while logging an average of 29.7 minutes. She played 34 Tuesday.

"Tamera does things that just make my jaw drop," Brooks said. "She’s so explosive and athletic."

In the second period, it didn’t take long for the Dukes to reclaim the lead, as sophomore guard Lesley Dickinson stepped in front of a Lady Eagle pass and took it the other way, unguarded for the go-ahead lay-in.

Dickinson’s basket put the Dukes on top for good. She finished with 12 points, 8 coming in the second half.

"The coaches told me to pick up the defensive intensity," Dickinson said. "We did a good job of that coming out after the second half."

JMU put together a couple of 6-0 runs to pull away from the Lady Eagles to close out the game. Four Dukes finished with double-digit points: Dickinson, Young and Alexis, who posted 11 in addition to 9 rebounds while only playing six minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.

"She’s getting cheap fouls," Brooks said. "She going to have to learn how to play with fouling, but I’m happy with the way Krystal Brooks stepped in."

The senior center, Brooks was the fourth with double-digit points, contributing 11.

With the win, JMU improves to 3-1, while Coppin State falls to 3-1. The Dukes are next in action Friday, when they take on the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.