Dec. 5, 2016 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
| RVISION: Postgame Press Conference - Coach Stringer | RVISON: Postgame Press Conference - Players
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team forced two overtimes, but the three-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion James Madison Dukes were able to outlast the Scarlet Knights, 82-76, on Monday night at the RAC.
Junior guard Kandiss Barber poured in a new career best with 22 points for the Scarlet Knights (2-7), her first 20-plus point scoring effort. Sophomore center Desiree Keeling nearly eclipsed a double-double with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Khadaizha Sanders rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points.
James Madison (5-3) was led by Precious Hall with 46 points setting both a JMU and RAC women's basketball scoring record. Da'Lishia Griffin added in a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
After a nearly three-minute stalemate to open the game for either side, Parker hit two free throws to get RU on the board first and ignite a 9-0 run. Hall ended a six-minute drought for JMU, generating a 7-0 burst for the Dukes to set the score at 9-7 with 2:40 to go in the first quarter. The teams traded points for the remainder of the frame as RU held a 13-10 lead after one quarter.
The Scarlet Knights and Dukes continued to trade points as the score would be knotted at 17-17 with 5:00 on the clock. However, from there, JMU discovered a 14-3 run to take a 31-20 lead into halftime.
Although JMU pushed its lead to 34-20 to open the third quarter, RU remained relentless with a 15-3 surge to tie the score 37-37 with 1:31 to go in the stanza. Sanders tacked on two free throws to return the lead to RU, 39-37 with under a minute left on the clock. The Dukes, however, countered with six unanswered points to reclaim the lead at 43-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
Rutgers pulled as close as two on two occasions in regulation before James Madison pushed its lead to 58-50 with 3:30 to go in the game. Rutgers held strong though with an 8-0 surge. Following a three-pointer for Sanders, Barber added a jumper to cap the run and tie the score 58-58 with 28 seconds remaining on the clock.
Although JMU's Hall responded with a jumper for the Dukes for the lead, Barber beat the buzzer with a jumper from the right wing to send the game into overtime with the score knotted 60-60. The teams traded points entering the first overtime period, however, JMU managed to grow its lead to five, 70-65, with under a minute to go. While Aliyah Jeune cut the margin to two connecting from downtown, Logan Reynolds cushioned the Dukes lead at 71-68 with 17 seconds on the clock making 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Parker remained composed, draining the ball from beyond the arc as time ran out to force a second overtime period.
After a three-pointer for Hall, Sanders answered with her own from three-point range to set the score at 74-74 with 3:27 to go. It was, however, as close as RU would come as JMU went on to lead by as many as six.
The Dukes closed the game with four consecutive points at the free throw line to cap the win. Rutgers hits the road for its next two contests first with a stop at St. John's on Wednesday, Dec. 7 before a trip south to Houston on Saturday, Dec. 10.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- Kandiss Barber and Desiree Keeling finished with 22 and 21 points respectively. The last time two RU players registered 20+ points in a game were by a pair of WNBA draft picks. Rachel Hollivay led RU with 22 points while Kahleah Copper netted 21 in the first round WNIT contest against Georgetown (Mar. 17, 2016). The duo combined to go 19-of-28 from the field.
- Barber set a new career-high for the second-consecutive contest with her 22 points after contributing 17 points in the win over Bucknell. She led RU in scoring for the third time this season.
- Keeling also set a new career mark in scoring. Her previous high eight points vs. Bryant (Nov. 27) and Elon (Nov. 14).
- Keeling also set a new career-high in blocks with five rejections. Her previous high was three, captured most recently against Bryant (Nov. 27).
- Barber, Keeling and KK Sanders all finished in double figures marking the second time this season RU has had three players in double digits.
- Aliyah Jeune set a new career-high in steals with six thefts. Her previous high in steals four vs. Chattanooga (Nov. 11) and Bryant (Nov. 27).
- James Madison's Precious Hall set a new RAC women's basketball scoring record with 46 points. The previous high was 40 by Tara Mitchem of Southwest Missouri St. (now Missouri St.) in a first round NCAA match-up with Toledo in 2001. Patty Delehanty (1980) and Caroline DeRoose (1994) hold the Scarlet Knight RAC scoring record with 35 points.
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