On Sunday, Dawn Evans walked off the floor of the Convocation Center in tears. On Tuesday, James Madison's high-scoring point guard said that won't happen again in the Women's NIT.

Evans and the Dukes host American Univ. at 7 p.m. Friday in the first round of the WNIT. It will be JMU's first game since losing the CAA championship at home to Drexel on Sunday.

"We're excited about playing at home," says Evans Tuesday after practice. "Knowing that we ended our last home game with a loss, maybe we can get a win here."

"It gives us a chance to, like, not redeem ourselves. But to just play here again and end on a win," says sophomore forward Jalissa Taylor. "Because that's what our goal is, to end on a win."

Then Evans took things a step further.

"And we plan on going into the NIT, that tournament, and just winning it all," says Evans. "That's how we'll redeem ourselves."

JMU head coach Kenny Brooks heard his point guard's comments Tuesday night, when he was a guest on WHSV Sports Xtra. His initial reaction was to laugh.

"Whatever happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas. What we talk about in our huddle she's supposed to keep it in the huddle," says Brooks. "But Dawn's a very confident young lady, and she's our leader. She's the leader of this basketball team."

Later during his appearance, Brooks said he liked the sophomore's confidence.

"That soundbite, it's not just talk," says Brooks. "She really means it. She really thinks she can go out and she can play, and we can play, with anybody that comes on the court."