HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior Victoria Reynolds and sophomore Eva Hodgson each had 20-point performances, but the William & Mary women's basketball team's strong effort fell short at James Madison, 84-70, in the Colonial Athletic Association opener on Friday night in Harrisonburg.
 
W&M (9-3, 0-1 CAA) closed the first quarter and opened the second on an 8-1 run to take its first lead of the game. Reynolds started the spurt with a lay-up before redshirt sophomore Sydney Wagner canned a 3-pointer to tie the score at 19-19 at the end of one. The Dukes opened the second period by splitting a pair of free throws, and then Wagner buried another 3-pointer to make it 22-20 with 8:39 to go in the second quarter.
 
After W&M took its first lead at 22-20, James Madison (10-2, 1-0 CAA) went on an 8-0 run to restore its lead. Two free throws from Kamiah Smalls tied the score before Jackie Benitez sandwiched lay-ups around a Kayla Cooper-Williams bucket to make it 28-22 with 6:02 left in the second quarter. The Dukes extended their lead to as many as seven but took a 36-31 lead into the locker room.
 
Down six, W&M used a quick 6-0 run to tie the score midway through the third quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers by junior Nyla Pollard and Hodgson tied the score at 43-43 with 4:27 to go in the third quarter.
 
The Dukes closed the frame on 15-7 run, including the last six of the quarter to take an eight-point lead they would not relinquish. Smalls completed a traditional 3-point play before Jackie Benitez and Smalls combined for back-to-back fast-break lay-ups to make it 58-50.
 
W&M Starters – #10 Hodgson, #11 Pollard, #20 Bellamy, #25 Rogers, #30 Reynolds
 
JMU Starters – #3 Smalls, #15 Barrier, #30 Jefferson, #31 Cooper-Williams, #55 Benitez
 
Individual Leaders 
Senior Victoria Reynolds and sophomore Eva Hodgson each scored a team-high 20 points. Reynolds added seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal, while Hodgson grabbed a rebound and had two helpers. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Wagner had nine points, an assist, and two steals, while sophomore Emma Krause finished with six points.
 
Preseason CAA Player of the Year Kamiah Smalls led all scorers with 24 points while adding seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals and was one of four Dukes in double-figures. Jackie Benitez added 17 points, two rebounds, and two steals, while Kayla Cooper-Williams just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Madison Green finished with 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Kiki Jefferson had 10 points. Rayne Tucker had 12 boards in the contest.
 
Inside the Numbers 
- Despite the effort, W&M still shot 40.3% (25-of-6gram2) from the field in the game, which included a 40.7% (25-of-62) clip from range.
- James Madison, which scored the most against the Tribe this season (84), shot 48.3% (29-of-60) from the field.
- The Dukes also won the rebounding battle, 41-34.
- JMU shot double the free throws compared to the Tribe as the Dukes got to the line 32 times compared to 16 for W&M.
 
Notes
Senior Victoria Reynolds finished with a season-high-tying 20 points, which was her second 20-point performance this season and the third of her career …  It was the eighth time in the last 10 contests that she's been in double-figures in the 47th time of her career … She is now just 40 points away from becoming the 21st player to score her 1,000th career point in W&M history … Sophomore Eva Hodgson posted back-to-back 20 point games, which gives her four this season and five for her career … Hodgson has been in double-figures in all 12 games this season, 13 dating back to last year, and has been in double-figures in 29 games of her career … The setback snapped the Tribe's four game-winning streaks in CAA openers … The Tribe has stated on the road in five of the seasons under head coach Ed Swanson.
 
What's Ahead
W&M closes its three-game road swing and its CAA opening weekend as it travels to Towson on Sunday, Jan. 5. Tip time between the Tribe and Tigers is slated for 2 p.m.