JMU fells VCU in CAA semifinals

HARRISONBURG -- Evans, JMU reach final; VCU hopes for NCAA bid

Now comes the hard part for Virginia Commonwealth University's women's basketball team.

Now comes the wait.

Dawn Evans, James Madison University's irrepressible sophomore point guard, scored 23 points and handed out six assists yesterday to carry her Dukes to a 65-57 victory over VCU in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.

The second-seeded Rams (26-6) now find themselves clinging to a slippery bubble as they await tomorrow's announcement of NCAA tournament selections.

"Our goal was to come in here and make it easy" for the NCAA selection committee, said Rams coach Beth Cunningham. "Obviously, I'd like to think we're an NCAA team."

She listed the arguments in favor of VCU's inclusion: a strong record, an attractive RPI (32), membership in the nation's ninth-ranked conference. "But the truth is, at this point, it's out of our control."

VCU, which shot so well for so long in its quarterfinal shellacking of William and Mary, struggled to put the ball in the basket yesterday. The Rams shot 29.4 percent in the first half and 32.9 percent for the game. They lost despite dominating the offensive boards (17-8) and taking 27 more shots than the Dukes.

In the process, they deprived themselves of the opportunity to play today for a conference championship. JMU and top-seeded Drexel will meet in today's 3:30 p.m. title game.

"That's what really hurts," VCU post player Quanitra Hollingsworth said. "That's why this game might be the most disappointing part of our season. I know how much I wanted" a CAA championship. "I know how much our team wanted it."

Third-seeded James Madison (23-8) never trailed following Evans' 3-pointer with 16:15 left in the first half. The Dukes pushed their lead to 13 points four times in the second half. En route, they atoned for two regular-season losses to VCU: 81-48 in Harrisonburg in January and 61-43 at VCU a month ago.

"After they beat us the first time and we said, 'Hey -- that wasn't us," Dukes coach Kenny Brooks said. "Then they beat us the second time without Dawn [who was recovering from a severe ankle sprain], and we said it again: 'That wasn't us.' We said it, and we truly believed it."

Wing guard Sarah Williams scored 11 points and post player Jalissa Taylor (L.C. Bird) added 10 for the Dukes, who held VCU scoreless for 2½ minutes after the Rams crept to four behind on Kita Waller's put-back with 5:30 remaining.

Guard La'Tavia Rorie led VCU with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Hollingsworth's contributions included 17 points and nine rebounds.

JAMES MADISON (23-8)

Uqdah 6, Taylor 10, Stokes 2, Williams 11, Evans 23, Crowell 9, Hamner 0, Shepherd 0, Francisco 2, Connely 2.
VCU (26-6)

Waller 11, Bachvarova 7, Hollingsworth 17, Lane 4, Rorie 18, Patterson 0, Taylor 0, Hurt 0.

3-point goals: JMU -- Crowell 3, Evans, Williams. VCU -- Rorie 2, Waller, Bachvarova.

Halftime: James Madison 30-25

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