FAIRFAX, VA -- Jasmin Lawrence converted a driving layup with 1.9 seconds remaining to give James Madison a 61-59 win over Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals Friday night at the Patriot Center.

The second-seeded Dukes, who improved to 24-5 on the season by winning their fifth straight and 12th in the last 13 games, advance to Saturday’s championship game against the winner of Friday’s second semifinal between top-seeded Old Dominion and fourth-seeded Hofstra. Third-seeded Delaware, which had split two regular season meetings with James Madison, fell to 22-7 on the season and had a four-game winning streak snapped.

After falling behind early James Madison responded to take a 30-27 lead at the half, and the Dukes extended their lead to six three times in the second half, the final time at 41-35 with 15:31 remaining. However Delaware answered as a free throw by Arek Deng, a jumper by Tyresa Smith (right), and a three-pointer by Alena Koshansky tied the contest at 41-41 with 13:53 to play.

James Madison led 50-49 with 9:27 to go, but Courtney Irving sandwiched a layup around two baskets by Melissa Czorniewy during a 6-0 Delaware run as the Blue Hens went up 55-50 with 5:21 left. Delaware still led 59-54 at the 3:29 mark after Smith hit a jumper, but the Dukes’ Tamera Young drained a three-pointer with 3:16 remaining and Kisha Stokes converted a layup with 1:26 left to tie the game.

After a turnover by Chrissy Fisher the Dukes missed three shots but got the offensive rebound each time, and James Madison called a timeout with 14 seconds remaining. Lawrence then hit the driving layup, and following a Blue Hen timeout, Meredith Alexis stole Delaware’s desperation inbounds pass to end the game.

Smith led Delaware with 16 points and added six rebounds, while Czorniewy added 12 points and Fisher chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Irving pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Blue Hens, while Koshansky added eight points, five assists and three steals.

Lawrence finished with 16 points for James Madison, which primarily used just six players and was without third team All-CAA forward Leslie Dickson, who missed the game with a leg injury.

The Blue Hens used six early points from Smith to take a 10-2 lead at the 15:41 mark of the first half, but the Dukes quickly responded with an 18-2 spurt to go up 20-12 with 9:40 left. Delaware drew within 22-21 on a Koshansky three-pointer with 7:17 remaining and again at 24-23 when Fisher hit a layup at the 5:27 mark, but the Dukes would not relinquish the lead the rest of the half. James Madison went up by five twice late in the period before Koshansky hit two free throws with 1:35 on the clock to bring Delaware within three at the break.

“I am so proud of my girls and how they represented our university,”10th-year Delaware head coach Tina Martin said. “The last play when we had the ball the play was designed for Tyresa, but Chrissy ended up getting the ball and fumbling it. But that play did not lose the game; it was lost on team rebounding. I’ve won games like this and lost games like this, but this will make us build character and we will be back. These kids gave their heart and soul to the coaching staff and I am very proud of them.”

The Blue Hens will hope for a bid to the Postseason WNIT, whose field will be announced Monday night.

Boxscore