JMU preparing for Tiger fight

Brooks continues to play with lineup he will use against Towson

File Photo / Drew Wilson JMU will play Towson University Thursday before heading to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament March 10 in Norfolk.

One would think ending the season at home against a team that is 1-16 in the Colonial Athletic Conference would create few worries.

However, coach Kenny Brooks said Towson University is not a typical 1-16 team.

"They're very dangerous," Brooks said. "They are a team that plays with heart, and they have a lot of talent. It's just a matter of time before they put together a string of games."

The Dukes might be a little more worried than normal about the Tigers, especially since the squad is on a two-game losing skid. JMU has to come out and get on track because the team hasn't played well lately, Brooks said.

"We haven't been able to get into a flow," he said. "We just don't have our rhythm right now, and when you don't have your rhythm to get into your offense, it's very difficult to execute."

Freshman forward Meredith Alexis said the team needs to take its time on offense.

"It's a combination of things that backfire — kind of a domino effect," she said. "We'll come out a little lax on defense, and the other team will get a basket. We'll feel rushed like we have to hurry up and make a shot."

That's just one of the Dukes' problems. The team has battled a number of issues, ranging from penetration in the lane to transition defense to turnovers.

"I just wonder how good we could be if we cut down on our turnovers," Brooks said. "If we do that going into the tournament, we can beat anyone we play. But, if we turn the ball over 20 times against someone, we're not giving ourselves a chance to win games."

Freshman guard Shameena Felix said the Dukes are going through a tough time at the moment.

"Lately, we've been letting ourselves down, letting our coaches down and letting our fans down," Felix said. "We hit a bump in the road, so right now we have to get out of that and finish as strong as possible heading into the tournament."

Alexis said over the next week, the Dukes will figure out the things on which they need to work.

"I think we're going to get it together by tournament time," she said.

At the moment, the Dukes have several issues to address before the Colonial Athletic Association tournament starts March 10 in Norfolk. The main focus is finding the right lineup.

"Right now, I am searching for the best possible lineup that will give us the best chance to win," Brooks said.

Brooks has toyed with the lineup several times, and recently has been going with sophomore Denae Dobbins at center, freshman Meredith Alexis at forward, red-shirt senior Jody LeRose and red-shirt junior Mary Beth Culbertson on the wings and freshman Lesley Dickinson at point guard.

Brooks likes that lineup because it gives the Dukes two shooters — LeRose and Culbertson — on the perimeter. However, that starting five leaves the Dukes without a natural point guard on the floor.

"I don't think it's hurt us because, if the two point guards were playing better, we wouldn't have to go to that lineup," he said. "I don't think it's hurt us, but I don't think it's helped us."

Freshmen guards Andrea Benvenuto and Felix are the Dukes' two natural point guards. Benvenuto started the season with a lot of playing time and, until her minutes decreased over the last week she led the CAA in assists. Felix has earned most of the minutes at the point, and she has provided JMU with some 3-point shooting.

The Dukes also will need freshman forward Shirley McCall to stay out of foul trouble early in ball games.

"She has to learn how to back off sometimes, especially when she gets one [foul] really early," Brooks said.

He said the team will need her down the stretch because she provides a spark off the bench.

JMU will need to work on its confidence as well, according to Felix.

"We have to come out with passion and excitement," she said. "Lately, we've been coming out and playing to the level of our competition. We're not really exceeding what we could do."

LeRose said a win over Towson tonight might be what the team needs heading into the CAAs.

"[A win against Towson] would be a huge boost for our confidence," she said.

Because the women's season doesn't end until tonight, conference seeding has not been set.

If JMU wins and Drexel University loses, the Dukes will be the seventh seed in the tournament. If Drexel wins, JMU will be either the eighth or ninth seed, depending on other action around the CAA.

Brooks said he doesn't have a preference because there are pros and cons to both. But, those scenarios are far from his mind, he said.

"I really haven't started thinking about it yet because there are two scenarios and I don't want to focus on one," he said.

For now, he is focused solely on the Tigers in the season finale.