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

The Wildcats, who evened their record at 3-2, broke open a tight contest by outscoring the Dukes 24-16 in the third period. The run turned a narrow four-point halftime advantage into a more comfortable double-digit lead that Villanova managed through the final quarter.

Villanova’s offense was the story of the game, operating with precision despite fewer possessions. The Wildcats scored their 84 points on just 78 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 108.4. James Madison, which also moved to 3-2, managed 73 points on 80 possessions for a 91.8 offensive rating. The difference was stark from beyond the arc, where Villanova connected on 12 of 29 three-point attempts while James Madison struggled, making only 4 of 20.

Brynn McCurry led a balanced Villanova attack, stuffing the stat sheet with 18 points, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Jasmine Bascoe provided a significant scoring punch with 17 points and added four assists. The Wildcats also received key contributions from Ryanne Allen, who scored 14 points, and Kennedy Henry and Kelsey Joens, who chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

James Madison was powered by the standout performances of Peyton McDaniel and Bree Robinson. McDaniel recorded a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Robinson poured in 22 points. The Dukes dominated inside, outscoring Villanova 48-24 in the paint and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to the Wildcats’ four. However, their inability to counter Villanova’s perimeter shooting and their own cold streak from deep proved too much to overcome.

The game was closely contested through the first half. The teams traded baskets in an opening quarter that ended with Villanova holding a slim 21-20 lead. The Wildcats maintained their composure in the second quarter, taking a 37-33 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The decisive third-quarter run, fueled by outside shooting and disciplined execution, gave Villanova the cushion it needed to withstand James Madison’s interior efforts in the final period.

Villanova’s defense was also active, generating nine steals and converting 15 James Madison turnovers into 23 points. The Wildcats committed 15 turnovers of their own but were more effective at the free-throw line, making 16 of 20 attempts compared to the Dukes’ 13 of 20.

An announced crowd of 2,255 watched the contest at the JMU Convocation Center. Villanova will look to build on the win when it hosts Temple on Saturday. James Madison faces a quick turnaround with a challenging road game at Texas on Wednesday.