WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The
William and Mary women's basketball team fell to No. 20 Delaware, 66-44, on
Sunday afternoon at Kaplan Arena. On
multiple occasions in the first half, the Green and Gold cut the deficit to
single-digits but Delaware gradually pulled away in second half action. The setback drops W&M to 6-18 overall and
4-9 Colonial Athletic Association action, while Delaware improves its mark to
22-3 on the year and 13-0 in league play.
Senior Emily Correal was exceptional on Sunday afternoon as
the Venetia, Pa., native registered her seventh double-double of the season,
which consisted of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Classmate Janine Aldridge finished the contest with 12 points and four
assists, while senior Jaclyn McKenna netted six points and three rebounds. Sophomore Kyla Kerstetter poured in six
points on three made field-goals for the Green and Gold.
For the game, the Tribe shot 18-of-47 (38.3 percent) from
the field, which included two 3-pointers on 12 attempts. From the free-throw line, W&M was an
efficient 6-of-7 (85.7 percent).
Furthermore, the Green and Gold finished the contest with 20 points in
the paint and 14 bench points.
In the early going, Delaware got off to a fast start as
Danielle Parker's lay up gave the Blue Hens a 12-5 advantage at the 16:32 mark. The Tribe countered on its ensuing possession
after Correal netted a jumper off an assist from sophomore Anna Kestler at
16:22 juncture.
After Delaware built a double-digit lead, 22-11, with 11:28
left in the opening half, the Green and Gold reeled off a quick 5-0 burst as it
forced a UD timeout at the 9:18 mark.
Aldridge ignited the rally with elbow jumper, while McKenna's trifecta
off of a feed from Aldridge got W&M to within 22-16.
For the remainder of the half, the Tribe zapped the UD
advantage to single digits on five occasions as sophomore Jazmen Boone's
slashing lay up got W&M to within nine, 34-25, with just 58 seconds reaming
in the half. However, Akeema Richards
scored the stanza's final bucket with 34 seconds left as Delaware took a 36-25 halftime
lead.
In second-half action, W&M was poised to make a run as
McKenna's lay up made the score 38-27 with 16:38 remaining. W&M's momentum increased on its ensuing
defensive possession as McKenna came up with timely steal. With 16:07 left to play W&M was on the
verge of cutting the deficit to single digits but Correal's jumper, that looked
destined for the bottom of the net, hit off the back iron.
Delaware proceeded to net a 3-pointer on its next possession
as its margin grew to 14, 41-27, with 15:33 left in regulation. For the remainder of the contest, the Green
and Gold never got to within single digits as Delaware pulled away for the
victory.
Elena Delle Donne paced the Blue Hens with 24 points and six
rebounds, while Akeema Richards chipped in with 13 points and five
rebounds. Delaware shot 28-of-58 (48.3
percent) from the field, which included a 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) performance
from 3-point territory.
The Tribe returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 21, as it
travels to in-state rival Old Dominion for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Ted Constant
Center in Norfolk, Va. Fans can follow
the action online at TribeAthletics.com with stats.
