NEW ORLEANS – James Madison University's women's basketball team is basking in the glow of its historic achievements this season. Following its first-ever perfect conference record of 18-0, the Dukes celebrated several honors announced on March 3, 2025, demonstrating their dominance in the Sun Belt Conference.
Leading the accolades, guard Peyton McDaniel was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, marking another milestone for JMU women’s basketball. McDaniel was not alone on the honors list; teammate Ro Scott was recognized as the Sixth Woman of the Year, and head coach Sean O'Regan was awarded Coach of the Year by the league's 14 head coaches. It’s worth noting this is the first time since 2016 JMU claimed both Player and Coach of the Year honors.
McDaniel has been a force on the court, averaging 16.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during the regular season, alongside posting the league’s highest average of 17.4 points against conference opponents. With her performance, she has now entered the program's top-10 scoring list, accumulating 1,589 points throughout her career. "My teammates have supported me, and going undefeated means everything to our team, our program, and our fan base," McDaniel expressed, highlighting the collaborative effort behind their success.
Meanwhile, Ro Scott has shone as one of the best players off the bench, averaging 11.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Her impressive stats place her sixth nationally in points per game among Division I players coming from the bench. Adding to her accolades, Scott delivered standout performances throughout the season, including scoring 22 points against then-No. 4 Texas on December 8, 2024.
On the defense front, Kseniia Kozlova made her mark by being named to the All-Sun Belt First Team, reflecting her contributions of 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Her impact on the game intensified against league opponents, where she averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. She also recorded substantial contributions, such as double-double performances against ranked teams like Notre Dame and NC State.
Completing the trio of honors, Ashanti Barnes earned All-Sun Belt Third Team recognition. Barnes has consistently registered significant performances for JMU, averaging 10.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, along with exceptional shooting percentages.
The Dukes’ accomplishments this season have been historic, as they not only claimed their 15th regular-season league title but also achieved the No. 1 seed heading to the 2025 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Championship. With their 79-51 victory over ULM on February 28, 2025, JMU set the new record for regular-season wins, claiming 27 along the way—surpassing the previous record of 26 wins set by the 2014-15 team.
This season marks JMU's fourth undefeated run against conference foes, previously recorded when they were part of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes have now joined the ranks of only eight teams to accomplish this feat since the Sun Belt expanded to ten or more league games back in 1991-92.
Looking forward, JMU prepares itself for the Sun Belt Championship semifinals on Sunday, March 9, at the Pensacola Bay Center, where they will face the winner of Game 9 between the No. 4 seed Coastal Carolina and the victor of Game 7.
Encouragingly, James Madison’s remarkable winning streak stands at 19 games under Coach O'Regan—the most since their impressive 20-game winning streak from January 8 through March 12, 2016. The anticipation for the championship game on March 10, broadcast nationally on ESPN2, is palpable among fans and players alike.
All these triumphs reflect the hard work, dedication, and skill from the players and the coaching staff at JMU, setting the groundwork for even bigger aspirations going forward. The excitement surrounding this historic season is just the beginning for the Dukes, who are eager for future success fueled by their current accomplishments.