HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a matchup of teams looking to climb above .500, the Villanova Wildcats used a dominant third-quarter surge and superior outside shooting to secure an 84-73 victory over the James Madison Dukes in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at a sparse JMU Convocation Center.

A crowd of 2,255 saw the Wildcats improve to 3-2 on the young season, while the Dukes fell to an identical 3-2 mark.

The game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Villanova’s offensive efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, proved to be the decisive factor. The Wildcats connected on 12 of 29 three-point attempts, a 41.4 percent clip, while James Madison managed just 4 of 20 from deep. Villanova also capitalized on its free-throw opportunities, making 16 of 20, compared to the Dukes’ 13 of 20.

Despite being outscored 48-24 in the paint and surrendering 13 offensive rebounds to their own four, the Wildcats’ offensive execution was sharper. They scored 84 points on 78 possessions, an offensive rating of 108.4, while James Madison was held to 73 points on 80 possessions, an offensive rating of 91.8.

The game began as a tightly contested affair. James Madison’s Zakiya Stephenson opened the scoring with a three-pointer, setting a back-and-forth tone for the first quarter. The Dukes’ Bree Robinson and Peyton McDaniel worked effectively inside, but Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe and Brynn McCurry answered with key baskets. The first quarter ended with Villanova holding a narrow 21-20 lead.

The second quarter saw both teams struggle to find a consistent offensive rhythm. The Wildcats’ defense tightened, holding James Madison to 15 points in the period. A late layup from McCurry, assisted by Bascoe, gave Villanova a 37-35 advantage heading into halftime.

The third quarter was the turning point. Villanova exploded for 24 points, spearheaded by a relentless offensive attack that stretched the James Madison defense. The Wildcats opened the half on a 10-2 run, with McCurry and Bascoe continuing their effective partnership. Ryanne Allen then caught fire from the perimeter, hitting a pair of crucial three-pointers that extended the Wildcats’ lead and forced a James Madison timeout. The Dukes, despite efforts from Robinson and a three from Stephenson, were outscored by eight in the quarter and entered the final period trailing 61-51.

James Madison refused to go quietly in the fourth quarter. McDaniel, who was a force inside all afternoon, and Robinson repeatedly attacked the basket to keep the Dukes within striking distance. They cut the deficit to single digits on multiple occasions, but every time the Dukes threatened, Villanova had an answer, often from the free-throw line.

McCurry was instrumental down the stretch, drawing fouls and converting her opportunities at the charity stripe. Her composure in the final minutes sealed the game, as the Wildcats consistently broke the James Madison press and made their free throws to close out the 11-point victory.

McCurry led all players with a stat-stuffing performance, finishing with 18 points and seven assists in 31 minutes of action. She was complemented by a balanced scoring attack. Bascoe, from Milton, Canada, added 17 points and four assists, while Allen contributed 14 points, including three three-pointers, and a key blocked shot in the final minute. Kelsey Joens and Kennedy Henry also reached double figures with 10 and 11 points, respectively.

For James Madison, the duo of Peyton McDaniel and Bree Robinson shouldered the offensive load. McDaniel, from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, recorded a formidable double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Robinson, hailing from Mississauga, Canada, was equally impressive, scoring 22 points in 35 minutes. Ashanti Barnes provided a strong interior presence with seven points and eight rebounds.

The Wildcats will look to build on this win when they host Temple on Saturday. James Madison faces a quick turnaround and a significant challenge, traveling to face Texas on Wednesday.