DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of momentum, the James Madison Dukes overcame a disastrous first quarter to dominate the Boston College Eagles, posting a 73-53 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at the Ocean Center.

The game was a tale of two halves, or more accurately, a tale of one explosive quarter and a subsequent collapse. Boston College raced out to a commanding 22-4 lead after the first period, only to see it systematically dismantled by a relentless James Madison squad that outscored the Eagles 69-31 over the final three quarters.

The opening frame was a clinic in offensive efficiency for the Eagles and a nightmare for the Dukes. Boston College connected on 9 of its 15 field goal attempts, including a blistering 5 of 8 from beyond the three-point arc. The Dukes, by contrast, managed just two field goals on 15 attempts, appearing out of sync and overwhelmed by the Eagles’ defensive pressure. Jocelyne Grier provided an immediate spark off the bench for Boston College, scoring 11 of her team-high 14 points in the first quarter.

The tide turned decisively in the second quarter. James Madison settled in, tightening its defense and beginning to find cracks in the Boston College armor. The Dukes outscored the Eagles 19-8 in the period, holding Boston College to just three field goals. A 12-0 run by James Madison, capped by a Grace McDonough layup, cut the deficit to single digits and signaled a complete shift in the game’s momentum. By halftime, the Eagles’ once-formidable lead had been whittled down to 30-23.

Any hope of a Boston College recovery was extinguished in a dominant third-quarter performance by the Dukes. James Madison exploded for 30 points in the period, nearly matching the Eagles’ total output for the entire second half. The Dukes’ offense operated with precision, shooting 13 of 20 from the floor while their defense forced the Eagles into a series of rushed and contested shots, limiting them to a mere six points.

Peyton McDaniel of James Madison was instrumental in the comeback, scoring 11 of her game-high 19 points during the third-quarter surge. Her back-to-back baskets, including a three-pointer just before the period ended, punctuated the Dukes’ control and sent them into the final quarter with a commanding 53-36 advantage.

The fourth quarter saw James Madison maintain its comfortable lead, trading baskets with the Eagles as both teams emptied their benches in the final minutes. The Dukes’ Ashanti Barnes was a force throughout, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Bree Robinson added 14 points. The Dukes’ floor general, Zakiya Stephenson, orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 10 assists to go along with five rebounds.

For Boston College, the offensive struggles after the first quarter were profound. The Eagles shot just 8 for 36 from the field over the final three periods. Beyond Grier’s 14 points, no other Eagles player reached double figures. Lily Carmody contributed nine points and five assists, but the team’s offensive rating of 77.9 on 68 possessions underscored their inefficiency after the initial outburst.

James Madison’s offensive balance and ball movement proved superior, as they assisted on nine of their 31 made field goals and posted an offensive rating of 103.7. They also won the battle in the paint and capitalized on Boston College’s 14 turnovers.

With the win, James Madison improved its season record to 5-3. The Dukes are scheduled to face Wisconsin on Saturday, also at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. Boston College fell to 4-5 with the loss and will look to rebound against Murray State at the same neutral site on Saturday.