WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary women's basketball team closed out its regular season in style dropping Towson 68-56 on Wednesday night in Kaplan Arena. Freshman Abby Rendle tied a career-high with 18 points in the victory. W&M improved to 15-14, 9-9 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Tigers fall to 10-20, 6-12 in league action.
Rendle concluded the game with eight rebounds, five blocks, and a steal, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor. Senior Jazmen Boone just missed the first triple-double in school history with 16 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, and a steal, while sophomore Marlena Tremba finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and one assist.
W&M stormed out of the gates on a 12-2 run, taking the lead by the same score. Rendle opened the scoring, before sophomore Alexandra Masaquel hit a jumper. After a Towson bucket, Tremba scored the final eight points of the run on a pair of 3-pointers, before she hit layup.
Towson used a 9-2 run to cut the lead to four points at 21-17 with 11:07 remaining in the first half. It was as close as the Tigers clawed back to for the remainder of the game. A pair of Daijha Thomas free throws started the run followed by a jumper from her,and a layup from Markell Smith. After a jumper from senior Kyla Kerstetter, Ciara Webb hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 21-17.
The Tribe responded with a 10-1 run to take its largest lead of the half at 31-18. Boone sparked the run with a steal and a layup, followed by a pair of free throws from sophomore Latrice Hunter and Boone, before Rendle hit a layup to push the lead to 12. After a Tiger free throw, Rendle hit another layup, pushing the lead to 13 points.
W&M used a 13-4 run to build its largest lead of the game at 15 points at 45-30 with 17:03 remaining in the game. Tremba sparked the second half scoring with a 3-pointer. The Tribe and Tigers traded baskets the next two possessions, before a Boone triple pushed the lead to 15.
The Tigers only brought the score to as little as nine points throughout the remainder of the game as W&M hung on for a 68-56 victory.
W&M dished out 20 assists in the victory, led by nine from Boone. Hunter chipped in six assists, while freshman Jenna Green finished with three dimes. On the flip side, the College committed a season-low four turnovers.
Kerstetter chipped in eight points for the Tribe, adding a rebound in a pair of steals. Green added six points and a career-high tying five boards.
Towson was led by Johnson, who scored 15 points, grabbed two rebounds, added two assist, and three steals. Thomas was the other player in double-figures with 10 and six rebounds. W&M was able to limit the CAA's second-leading scorer LaTorri Hines-Allen to just seven points and six rebounds.
The Green and Gold finish the regular season having a lead in every one of its 29 games. Tonight was the fourth time this season the College has not trailed in a contest.
With the victory, the Tribe earns the No. 6 seed in next week's CAA Championship in earn a bye into the quarterfinals. W&M will face the No. 3-seeded Hofstra Pride on Friday, March 13 in the nightcap of the quarterfinals. Tipoff is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. Stay tuned to Tribe Athletics.com for more information on the CAA Championship.
