HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior guard Kita Waller scored a team-high 23 points but Virginia Commonwealth University couldn't overcome a 26-5 second half run and fell 79-72 against James Madison Thursday at the Convocation Center.

VCU slips to 18-10 overall and 11-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while James Madison improves to 21-6, 11-5 in conference play.

Senior forward D'Andra Moss contributed 18 points for VCU, while sophomore forward Courtney Hurt registered her seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  Junior guard Jessica Taylor added eight points off the bench and classmate Ebony Patterson chipped in six points and a team-high five assists for the Rams.

James Madison junior guard Dawn Evans led all scorers with 34 points and finished with a game-high seven assists.  Junior center Lauren Jimenez added 16 points and six rebounds in a reserve role for the Dukes, while senior guard Sarah Williams scored 10 points with a team-high three steals.  Freshman forward Nikki Newman pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

James Madison scored nine straight points to open the game and Evans sent a no-look pass under the basket to Jalissa Taylor to give the Dukes an 11-5 lead at the 13:32 mark in the opening period.

Hurt pulled VCU within 11-9 on a traditional 3-point play with 12:32 to go before Waller hit a pair of free throws to tie the score at 11-11 with 11:53 showing.  Moss came up with a steal on the ensuing possession and gave the Rams their first lead of the game on a fast break layup.

James Madison knotted the score at 13-13 on its next possession before VCU used a 6-0 run to pull ahead 19-13 on a pair of free throws by Moss with 7:58 to go.

Jiminez matched the Rams run and scored six of James Madison's next eight points and Evans capped off an 9-0 run with a triple to put the Dukes back on top 22-19 with 4:54 remaining.

Both teams traded baskets the remainder of the half and VCU took a 29-27 advantage into the locker room.

VCU increased its lead to 37-31 on a layup by Waller just over two minutes into the final period.

James Madison hit 3-pointers on three straight possessions and Williams put the Dukes back on top 40-37 with 16:14 showing.

The Rams regained the lead at 41-40 on a layup by Hurt with 15:35 to go and sophomore guard Jennifer Lane capped off a 9-2 run and put VCU ahead 47-42 on a jumper with 13:04 left.

James Madison answered with a 26-5 run spanning seven minutes, held VCU without a field goal, and took its largest lead of the game at 68-52 with 5:51 remaining.

Taylor and Moss halted the James Madison run with back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Rams within 10 with 4:40 to go.

Moss hit another trey with 2:40 remaining and cut the Dukes' lead to 68-62 but Evans answered on the following possession and James Madison went back ahead by nine.

Taylor pulled VCU within 76-72 on a three with 15 seconds left but the Dukes hit 8-of-10 from the line in the final two minutes of regulation to hold off the Rams' rally.

VCU returns to action Sunday for its final home game of the season as the Rams face first place Old Dominion at 2 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena.