Sophomore Icelyn Elie led the Blue Raiders with her first double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds against James Madison Sunday. (MTSU/B. Lambert)

The Lady Raiders faced off against James Madison trying to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season, winning MTSU's first game in a double header 81-75.

JMU entered the game with a 5-3 record, led by nation’s No. 6 scorer in Dawn Evans. Evans entered the game averaging 23 points per game.

Middle Tennessee got behind early when JMU went on a 13-0 run to take a 23-11 lead with 12:05 remaining in half. The Raiders showed little resistance until Sophomore Icelyn Elie brought the team a spark from the bench.

Elie broke up JMU’s run when she was able to grab an offensive rebound from an Ebony Rowe miss and go back up for the score, drawing the foul in the process and successfully completing a three point play.

In Middle’s next possession Elie was able to grab an offensive rebound that eventually led to a score by Rowe and immediately followed with a defensive rebound to set up a three by Anne-Marie Lanning pulling the Raiders back within four points.

For the majority of the remaining first half the Raiders trailed JMU by a slim margin, reclaiming the lead briefly with 2:31 remaining before losing it once again 15 seconds later.

Elie’s impressive first half minutes kept Middle within striking distance as she put up eight points and seven rebounds in only eight minutes off the bench. Rowe and Lanning were the Raiders’ best scorers in the first half, combining for 23 of MTSU’s 40 points.

“We just had to keep chipping away and tighten up our defense,” Lanning said.

Raider coach Rick Insell saw enough in Elie’s eight first half minutes to start the second half with her on the court and leave her in the remainder of the game, a decision that would prove to be a good one for Middle Tennessee.

The two teams matched each other nearly shot for shot the first few minutes of the second half. The biggest difference was JMU’s ability to score the ball quickly while MTSU ran their offensive sets and used more of the clock.

Middle looked to take over for the first time in the game with 13:54 remaining when the team hit back-to-back shots from behind the arc, taking a three point lead.

JMU responded quickly, taking back the lead about two minutes later with a three-pointer from Courtney Hamner.

Neither team could gain an upper hand until Middle finally broke through with 1:16 left in the game. Rowe grabbed two offensive rebounds in one Raider possession, eventually scoring the ball off an assist by Elie, giving the team a four-point lead.

The Raiders were finally able to stop JMU and force their opponent to foul late in the game, stretching the lead to seven, the biggest of the night for Middle Tennessee.

Elie would grab the game’s final rebound with three seconds left the give the Raiders a hard fought 81-75 victory at home.

“I thought it was a great women’s basketball game,” Insell said. “I was proud of our kids. That’s big for those young players to be able to do that.”

Evans continued to show the scoring dominance she has all year for JMU, ending Sunday’s game with 27.

“I think Dawn Evans is the best player that’s been in this gym since Alysha Clark,” Insell said.

Elie was the most impressive player on the court for either team, finishing with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

“Icelyn Elie had the best game she’s ever had and we needed it,” Insell said, hoping his young player can build on her performance in the game and continue to improve.

“I think it’s just a focus thing,” Elie said. “You have to have a good mindset.”

Rowe put up 21 points, Lanning 17 and Tina Stewart 10 as the Raider’s other three double digit scorers in the game.

“We’ve done a good job of fighting and not giving up,” Lanning said. “I love this team. Our chemistry is getting better every time.”