PENSACOLA, Fla. – Arkansas State defeated James Madison, 86-79, in the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Championship to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid in program history.
The Red Wolves were picked to finish 13
th in the league, stunning everyone with a 21-10 record and a 15-3 record in league play before entering the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.
Arkansas State was led by Crislyn Rose who had 23 points going 10-for-16 from the field to earn the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
She was joined in double figures by Mimi McCollister (16), Annalise Griffin (13), Wynter Rogers (12) and Kennedie Monute (11).
James Madison was once again led by Peyton McDaniel who recorded her 14
th double-double of the year with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ashanti Barnes also recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
After not meeting during the regular season, the two teams set a fast pace right out of the gate. Both defenses put on a full court press and went shot-for-shot in the opening minutes.
A first quarter battle ensued between McDaniel and Rogers who both went perfect from the field with eight points apiece, leading their teams to a 23-23 tie to end the first.
James Madison found its stride in the second quarter with a 19-0 scoring run led by McDaniel going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Tides would shift in the Red Wolves’ favor, as Griffin put up seven consecutive points to end the half and reduced the margin to 40-32.
Arkansas State did what they do best to open the third quarter: sink the three-ball. Three different players from the Red Wolves would hit one from beyond the arc and force a James Madison timeout midway through the period with the Dukes leading, 47-44.
The Dukes would go on a 6-0 run to build additional separation, but the Red Wolves would claw back to draw within one point. Remaining composed, James Madison responded and reclaimed a six-point lead heading into the final quarter up 57-51.
Arkansas State exploded in the fourth, hitting three-consecutive three-pointers while stealing the James Madison lead at the midway point, 66-63.
It was the Dukes’ turn to battle back in the closing minute of the fourth, as Barnes hit a quick jumper for a two-point edge with 1:20 on the clock. However, Rose laid one in on the next possession to tie it at 70 and force the game into overtime.
The Red Wolves scored seven of the first eight points in overtime, capped by a dagger three-pointer from Rose to go up 77-71. They never looked back and led for the duration of overtime to seal the seven-point win, 86-79.
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship
Most Outstanding player
Chrislyn Rose, G, Arkansas State
All- Tournament Team
Kennedie Montue, G, Arkansas State
Peyton McDaniel, G, James Madison
Ashanti Barnes, F, James Madison
Aislynn Hayes, G, Marshall
Mikyla Tolivert, G, Georgia State