JMU's adjusting to CAA competition

Dukes gaining confidence, set to take on UNC-Wilmington tonight
Women's Basketball

FILE PHOTO / Amy Paterson JMU will begin its second half of Colonial Athletic Association play tonight, when the Dukes take on the University of North Carolina-Wilmington at 7 p.m.

Following their heartbreaking loss to Virginia Commonwealth University last Thursday, the Dukes' confidence hit rock bottom — or close to it.

What a difference a week makes.

After an 84-57 win over the University of Delaware Sunday in front of a crowd of 4,288 fans at the Convocation Center, the Dukes are riding a confidence high into the second half of the Colonial Athletic Association season, which starts tonight against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

One might think that such a turnaround was the result of something big. In reality, the turnaround was the cause of something simple.

"We had two good practices, a good shoot-around and we were ready for Delaware," red-shirt senior guard Jody LeRose said.

Coach Kenny Brooks agreed that the win over the Blue Hens improved the team's morale.

"We are going to head into the second part of the season and second part of the conference understanding what it takes to win and close out basketball games," he said. "As a result, I think we'll have a much better record the second half of the season."

The Dukes finished the first round of conference play with a 3-6 record, which ties them for eighth in the CAA with the College of William & Mary.

While Brooks said he expects his team to fare better in the second half of the conference schedule, he said he wouldn't make predictions.

"I'm not going to put a number on how many we can win, but I think we have a chance to win every one," he said. "We were a couple of possessions from being 6-3 or possibly 7-2 (in the conference)."

Chemistry issues hurt the Dukes over the last three weeks, according to Brooks. Several players have been out of the Dukes' lineup because of injuries — including LeRose, who missed five games. Red-shirt junior guard Mary Beth Culbertson has missed the last five games due to symptoms of concussions.

However, Culbertson practiced Tuesday and should be worked back into the lineup tonight against the Seahawks, which will give the Dukes needed depth.

"It's obvious — we haven't had a deep bench," LeRose said. "Am I going to make that an excuse for losing? No. But, have we been able to really get after teams like we would like to? Probably not because we haven't had everybody."

With Culbertson and LeRose both back, Brooks said his team will be ready for the final nine games of the season.

"We had to adjust during that period to our new roles, and I think we are at the point where we understand them," Brooks said. "It will help us down the stretch because everyone will be able to be counted on if needed."

Adjusting is something JMU will need to do to beat UNC-W this time around, Brooks said. The Dukes lost to the Seahawks, 61-51, in Wilmington, N.C., Jan. 22 after UNC-W outscored JMU, 27-9, over the final 12 minutes.

Brooks said the Seahawks struggled against JMU's zone defense, but made adjustments throughout the game. JMU failed to make counteradjustments, he said, and couldn't hang on to the lead.

"We're going to expect the same game basically," said freshman forward Meredith Alexis, who was named CAA Rookie of the Week. "It's going to be centered around guard Cherie Lea. This time, we are going to capitalize on a lead and keep building just as we did against Delaware."

Lea is averaging 17.4 points per game, the third—highest scoring average in the CAA. UNC-W currently is tied for fourth place in the conference standings with a 5-4 record in the CAA.

Although JMU is five games behind leader Old Dominion University (8-1), Brooks feels that the CAA still is wide-open.

"I think there is a lot of parity in the league," he said. "I truly believe that on any given night, anyone can beat anyone. That's including ourselves."

LeRose, entering the final stretch of her playing career, knows how important it is to finish the conference schedule strongly heading into the CAA Tournament. Seeing the teams for the second time will be a big help, especially since most of JMU's roster is full of freshmen who had never played against the teams during the first round of conference play, she said.

"Now we know what we have to do to finish games, and we are familiar with their personnel, their strengths and weaknesses," LeRose said.

She also added that after nine conference games, the freshmen now know how important conference play is.

"Before conference play starts, you hype up the conference play because it's so much different than regular season play," LeRose said. "It's more physical and more to go to battle for because we are big rivals. When I was a freshman, I didn't understand that going into conference play. After you play a few games, you definitely pick up on it."

Alexis agreed. She said, "Watching film, we know what people's tendencies are. But, I think by actually playing against them, we know how to defend them and get baskets on them."

The Dukes will hope that strategy works tonight against the Seahawks. Game time is set for 7 p.m.