In a thrilling overtime showdown, the Arkansas State women’s basketball team clinched the Sun Belt Tournament championship, marking a historic milestone for the program. Spearheaded by Crislyn Rose’s impressive 23 points and aided by Mimi McCollister’s contribution of 16 points, the No. 2 seeded Arkansas State emerged victorious against top-seeded James Madison with an 86-79 win on Monday. This triumph secured Arkansas State’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Arkansas State, now standing with a 21-10 record, broke James Madison’s phenomenal winning streak. The Dukes came into the game with a formidable 28-5 record, having remained unbeaten since December 19 and boasting a 20-game winning streak. The James Madison team was striving for their second Sun Belt Conference title since integrating into the conference in 2022 and sought to add an 11th league tournament championship to their legacy.
McCollister was instrumental in revitalizing Arkansas State’s chances with consecutive 3-pointers within a brief 23-second window, leveling the score at 63 each with 5:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. Following a couple of miscues by James Madison, Rose capitalized with yet another 3-pointer, propelling Arkansas State into the lead for the first time since the late stages of the first quarter when the score was 23-21.
As the game progressed into overtime, Rose delivered a pivotal long jumper, grazing the arc, followed by a corner 3-pointer that expanded the lead to 77-71. Although Ashanti Barnes finally secured James Madison’s initial overtime field goal at the 2:02 mark, the Dukes faltered, surrendering two offensive rebounds on the defensive end. This allowed McCollister and her teammate Wynter Rogers to convert 3 of 4 free throws, stretching the lead to 80-73.
Contributing to the team’s success, Anna Griffin added 13 points, while Rogers chipped in with 12, and Kennedie Montue posted 11 points for Arkansas State. Meanwhile, Peyton McDaniel emerged as the top performer for James Madison with a robust 24 points and 11 rebounds. Barnes also showcased remarkable play, achieving a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
During the second quarter, McDaniel sparked a 17-0 run, which momentarily gave James Madison a commanding 40-23 lead. The Dukes entered halftime with an eight-point advantage, leading 40-32. A victory against Arkansas State would have equaled the longest winning streak in James Madison’s program history, dating back to the 1990-91 season.