James Madison women win second Sun Belt Tournament title

Dukes defeat Troy 69-52 to claim championship since joining league in 2022

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The James Madison women's basketball team defeated Troy 69-52 on Monday to win its second Sun Belt Tournament championship since joining the league in 2022. Peyton McDaniel scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Ashanti Barnes had a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards for the Dukes.

Why it matters

James Madison's victory marks the first time a No. 4 seed has won the Sun Belt Tournament title since Troy did so in the 2015-16 season. The Dukes have now won 12 straight games and will make their 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

James Madison opened the game on a 13-0 run and never looked back, pulling away in the second half. McDaniel, the Sun Belt most outstanding player, finished 11-of-23 from the field, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. Troy's Fortuna Ngnawo led the Trojans with 18 points and 12 rebounds before leaving the game late with an injury.

  • James Madison won the Sun Belt Tournament title in 2023.
  • The Dukes were appearing in their fourth consecutive Sun Belt title game, the first program to do so since Middle Tennessee went to eight straight from 2003-10.

The players

Peyton McDaniel

The Sun Belt most outstanding player scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for James Madison.

Ashanti Barnes

The James Madison player had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Fortuna Ngnawo

The Troy player led the Trojans with 18 points and 12 rebounds before leaving the game late with an injury.

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The takeaway

James Madison's victory highlights the program's continued success in the Sun Belt Conference, as they have now won two tournament titles since joining the league in 2022. The Dukes' ability to overcome a No. 4 seed and defeat the second-seeded Trojans showcases their resilience and talent, setting them up for a potential deep run in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.