CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The College of Charleston women's basketball team (14-10, 6-7) overcame a 20-point deficit to take down JMU 71-69 in Harrisonburg on Friday afternoon. The Cougars trailed 39-23 at the half, but outscored the Dukes 48-30 in the final twenty minutes to complete the comeback and claim CofC's first ever win at JMU. Its just the third win over the Dukes in Charleston history.

The College of Charleston improves to 7-3 on the road this season. Friday's win gives the Cougars three CAA road victories this year.

First Half

• Charleston jumped out to a 7-2 lead on the Dukes, but James Madison used a quick 5-0 spurt to even the score at 7-7
• Annecchiarico was surveying the floor early, assisting on each of the Cougars first three field goals to begin the game
• The Cougars led 12-9 at the 4:43 mark of the first quarter before JMU embarked a 10-0 run to end the period, holding CofC scoreless for nearly five minutes
• After one, the Dukes led 19-12. Latrice Perkins led the team with five points in the opening frame
• Jenna Annecchiarico picked up her second foul late in the first quarter, placing the Cougars' leading scorer on the bench
• JMU extended its run with a pair of triples to open the second half and grow its lead to 25-12 with 8:01 remaining in the first half
• Free throws by Jenna Annecchiarico ended the scoring drought and a 21-0 JMU run
• Charleston got up off the mat and responded with a 7-0 surge to bring the JMU edge down to 32-21 with just under four minutes to go in the second period
• The Dukes ended the first half on a 7-2 run and entered the break with a 39-23 lead
• Charleston made just 27 percent of its shots from the field and 23 percent of its three-point attempts. JMU shot 42 percent and 55 percent respectively 

Second Half

• The Cougars trimmed the deficit to 45-32 at the third quarter media timeout 
• Charleston started to get JMU on its heels with a 12-4 run that cut JMU's lead to just five points. Annecchiarico and Perkins combined for 10 of the 12 points during the CofC surge
• The Cougars outscored the Dukes 21-12 in the third period and entered the final 10 minutes trailing 51-44
• A triple from Jenna Annecchiarico and a layup by Arynn Eady trimmed JMU's lead down to 51-49 at the beginning of the fourth quarter
• The Dukes extended their lead to six before a pair of free throws by Grace Abercrombie and a bucket in the paint by Arynn Eady brought the deficit down to 57-55 with under six minutes to play
• CofC trailed by just one after a and-one by Eady, but four straight by JMU grew its lead to five
• A 7-0 CofC run - with all seven points scored by Annecchiarico - gave CofC its first lead since the first quarter, 65-63 with 2:01 to go
• JMU would regain the lead with a three at the top of the key with just over a minute to go
• Both teams traded buckets until a held ball gave CofC possession with 35.1 seconds left and leading by one
• Charleston would close out the Dukes at the foul line and come away with a thrilling comeback win, 71-69

Team Stats

• After a dismal shooting half in the first, the Cougars shot 50 percent (16-of-32) from the field and 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from three in the second half
• The Cougars shot 100 percent (16-of-16) from the foul line in the game, overcoming a 25-of-25 free throw shooting performance from JMU
• Charleston assisted on 16 of its 24 baskets and turned the ball over just 11 times
• The Cougars forced JMU into 17 turnovers 

Key Cougars

• Charleston got 57 of its 71 from Annecchiarico, Eady, and Perkins
• Jenna Annecchiarico scored 23 points and dished out nine assists
• Latrice Perkins added 17 points, four boards, and four dimes
• Arynn Eady totaled 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals

Up Next

• The Cougars will return to action on Sunday, February 20 as CofC heads to Towson. The game will tip at 2 PM on FloSports.