Turner Ashby graduate Nikki Newman has become, what her head coach calls, one of the best freshmen in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"What she does for us as a team on the defensive end, but also offensively, you look at her stat sheet, she's not going to fill it up but she just helps our offense run smoother," said James Madison head coach Kenny Brooks.

"I really don't think of it as being a freshman," said Newman. "I'm just going out and playing and doing what I can to help my team out."

Newman is averaging three points and five rebounds this season, but she helps the Dukes the most on defense.

She's second on the team in blocks, and on Monday, Newman was assigned to guard the conference's all-time leading scorer and reigning Player of the Year Gabriela Marginean.

Newman held her to 14 points on four of 16 shooting. Marginean was averaging 23.2 a game coming into Monday night.

"I was really excited knowing she's one of their best players, averaging a lot of points," said Newman. "We really emphasized that you have to play fundamental defense. I just wanted to go out and make a point I guess and help my team in a way."

And with Newman producing, her minutes are rising. During JMU's three-game winning streak, she's started every game. She played 23 against Towson, 35 against Virginia Commonwealth and 32 in Monday's game against Drexel.

"I knew she would find her way, because as somebody that passes the ball as well as she does, who is long as she is and can be as versatile as she is, I knew she was going to get minutes," said Brooks, whose Dukes are tied for third in the conference (18-4, 8-3). "I never dreamed she was going to get 32 or 35."

And according to Brooks, you can expect to see a lot more of Newman.

"I just feel like I need to have her on the floor, and she's only going to get better, I promise you," added Brooks. "You wait until the point she's knocking down that three and they got to guard her that way. She's going to be so good."