SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Coming off of a 12-day layoff the William and Mary women's basketball team opened the game with an 18-5 run and never looked back and never trailed, defeating Wofford 71-51 on Thursday night in South Carolina. Freshman Abby Rendle led the Tribe with her first career double-double, while senior Jazmen Boone was also in double figures with 15 points. With the win, the Tribe improved to 6-3, while Wofford falls to 3-7.
W&M built a 13-point lead with 12:12 to go in the first half thanks to a game opening on an 18-5 run. Rendle opened the scoring with a free throw that was followed by a triple from sophomore Marlena Tremba. After a Wofford 3-pointer, sophomore Alexandra Masaquel hit a layup followed by Boone hitting one of two from the line, and a Rendle layup. The Terriers cut the lead to four points, before the Tribe reeled off nine points in a row. Boone started the spurt with a layup, matched by a Masaquel layup. Junior Brooke Stewart canned a triple, and Rendle finished the run with a layup.
The Tribe closed out the half with an 11-7 run to build its largest lead of the half at 19 points, 40-21. Boone led the spurt with four points, while Stewart had three points for the Green and Gold during the run.
W&M opened second half with a 6-2 run to build its largest lead of the game at 23-points, 46-23, with 17:19 to play. The only two points Wofford scored during the run were from the free throw line, while Masaquel, senior Kyla Kerstetter, and Rendle scored for the Tribe.
Trialing by 20 points, Wofford used a 7-1 run to cut the lead to 15 points, 52-37, with 10:00 minutes to play. Kentra Washington had three points, while Jordan Frazier and Ashton Fleming each had a pair, sparking the run. That was the closest the Terriers could get, and the Tribe was able to grind out the final 10 minutes of regulation.
W&M's defense held strong limiting Wofford to 51 points (the second lowest point total the Tribe has allowed this season) and to just 25.5-percent from the floor, which is the lowest a Tribe opponent has shot this season. The Tribe forced 21 turnovers on 11 steals, led by Kerstetter, who finished with three steals. Offensively, the Green and Gold shot better than 40-percent for the seventh time in nine games, and the 11th in its last 15 games dating back to last season.
Rendle recorded the fifth double-double by a W&M player this season. She set career-highs in both points (16) and rebounds (10), while adding an assist, block, and pair of steals. Boone finished the game with 15 points, while adding six boards, two assists, and two steals. Tremba and Kerstetter each finished with seven points apiece. It was the first time this season that Tremba didn't score in double-figures, but she hit a triple for the 30th straight game dating back to last season.
For the fourth time this season, W&M won the battle on the glass, out rebounding Wofford, 45-41. The Green and Gold is 3-1 when out rebounding its opponent. Individually, Rendle had 10 boards and Kerstetter chipped in a season-high eight points.
The College returns home for the first time in 22 days when they open a two-game home stand against Maine on Sunday, Dec. 21. Tipoff from Kaplan Arena is set for 1 p.m. W&M will then conclude its non-conference schedule at home against in-state rival Richmond on Sunday, Dec. 28. Tipoff for the Tribe and Spiders is set for 2 p.m.
