TOWSON, Md. – The William and Mary women's basketball team dropped another tough game on the road as it fell to Towson 77-69 in overtime on Tuesday night. The Tigers used a 23-6 run down the stretch, and closed out the victory in overtime. With the decision the Tribe falls to 6-7, 0-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the TU improves to 5-9, 1-1 in league action.
Sophomore Marlena Tremba led all scorers with 22 points, which was her fourth 20-point effort of the season. She led four Tribe players in double figures, including classmate Alexandra Masaquel, who finished with her third career double-double on 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Kyla Kerstetter finished with 11 points and a season-high eight rebounds, while freshman Jenna Green finished with 10 points and a career-high eight assists.
With the game tied 7-7, Towson went on an 8-0 run to take 15-7 lead with 7:30 to play in the first half. LaTorri Hines-Allen opened the run with a basket. Following a near five-minute drought for both teams, the Tigers ripped off the next six points in a row on baskets from Hines-Allen and a pair from Markeema Crawford.
W&M responded with a 16-4 run to close out the first half and take 23-19 advantage into the locker room. Nine points from Tremba, three points Green, and two points Kerstetter and Masaquel sparked the run.
Towson opened the second half with a 6-2 run to tie the score, 25-25, in the first four minutes. After a jumper by Green, the Tigers reeled off the next six points on a triples from Ciara Webb and Dominique Johnson.
W&M responded with a 15-3 spurt to build its lead to 40-28 with 9:27 remaining. A Kerstetter free throw opened the run, before Masaquel hit a layup, and Tremba buried a 3-pointer. Sophomore Kasey Curtis hit back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to double-digits, before a Towson triple. The Tribe responded with the next five points on a trey from freshman Jeanne Gaumont and a jumper from Kerstetter.
Trialing by 15 points, Towson used a 23-6 run in the final 6:20 of the game to force overtime. Johnson scored 13 points to help spark the Tigers, while Webb hit two big 3-pointers in the final minute, including a bank-in triple with nine second remaining. Kerstetter had a look at a long trey before time expired but it was short. The game headed to overtime with the scored tied 57-57.
In overtime, Towson scored the first six points of the frame, and never looked back, out scoring the Tribe 20-12 to win 77-69. The Tigers led by as many as 12 in the extra session, and were led by Hines-Allen and Webb, who each scored six points. Tremba led the Green and Gold's comeback attempt, but they could only cut it five points at 74-69 with 40 seconds remaining. The Vienna, Virginia native scored 10 points in overtime.
Hines-Allen led Towson with a double-double on 21 points and 10 rebounds. She was one of three Tigers in double-figures with Johnson, who scored 20 points and dished out eight assists, and Webb, who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Curtis finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and steal for the Tribe. W&M finished the game forcing 11 steals, which is right on their average this season. Masaquel had a game-high five thefts. The Green and Gold also handed out 20 assists on 24 made baskets. Green dished out eight of those, which was the seventh time this season she has dished out at least three dimes.
The College concludes its stretch of four games in eight days with a pair of home games this weekend. W&M welcomes CAA newcomer Elon to Kaplan Arena on Friday, Jan. 9. Tip is set for 7 p.m. The Tribe will then welcome league preseason favorite James Madison on Sunday, Jan. 11. Tip for that game is set for 2 p.m.
