WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary women's basketball team heads into 2017 and Colonial Athletic Association play on a 10-game winning streak. The Tribe's first CAA test is Delaware on Monday, Jan. 2. Tip time is set for 3 p.m.
Opening Tip
The William & Mary women's basketball team flips the calendar to 2017 and looks to continue its 10-game winning streak as they travel to Delaware for their Colonial Athletic Association opener on Monday, Jan. 2. Not only does tonight's game open CAA play, but it also kicks off a two-game road swing for the Tribe. The Green and Gold meets Delaware for the 28th time in series history in Monday's matinee.
Last Time Out
The William & Mary women's basketball team put the finishing touches on the best non-conference slate in school history, winning its 10th straight in turning back American Athletic Conference visitor East Carolina, 82-72, on Wednesday night. The Tribe received a pair of memorable performances as senior
Marlena Tremba scored a season-high 27 points, including 16 of the Tribe's final 22 in the four quarter, while junior
Abby Rendle posted the second triple-double in school history. With the victory, W&M extended its single-season school-record win streak to 10 games and closed out the best non-conference start in program history at 10-1. Tremba scored 24 of her game-high 27 in the second half, finishing at 7-of-15 from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and a career-high tying 9-of-12 at the charity stripe. Rendle tallied 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds and a school-record tying 10 blocked shots. It was Rendle's second career triple-double. Senior
Alexandra Masaquel just missed here third straight double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while junior
Jenna Green scored in double figures for the first time this season with 10 points to go with six assists.
Scouting the Blue Hens
Delaware returns to action for the first time since Dec. 21 as they open CAA play by hosting the Tribe on Monday afternoon. The Blue Hens enter league action with a 6-5 record, and are looking to halt a two-game losing skid. UD is averaging 57.5 points per contest through 11 games this season. Nicole Enabosi leads three players in double-figures with 12.4 points per game. Erika Brown (10.6 ppg.) and Sade Chatman (10.5 ppg.) are also in double-figures. The Blue Hens grab 34.9 rebounds a night. Enabosi also leads the effort on the glass, averaging 8.3 rebounds a game. Chatman is second on the team with 6.7 boards a night. Tina Martin is in her 21st season at the helm of Delaware. She is closing in on her 400th career victory and owns a 398-229 career record.
Series History
The Green and Gold meets Delaware for the 28th time in series history in Monday's matinee. It is the first of two regular season meetings as the Blue Hens make the return to trip to Williamsburg later in the month, on Jan. 27. UD leads the all-time series by 21-6 mark, including taking both games in the series last season. Senior
Alexandra Masaquel led the Tribe against the Blue Hens last year averaging 14 points and seven boards in the two contests. Senior
Marlena Tremba and sophomore
Bianca Boggs each finished averaging 10.5 points per game.
The Road Ahead
W&M concludes its two-game CAA opening road trip as the hit the most-southern point of the league, at College of Charleston. The game is set for Friday, Jan. 6 with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. The Tribe returns to Williamsburg for its CAA home opener against Hofstra on Sunday, Jan. 8. That game will tip at 2 p.m.
CAA Openers
On Monday, W&M will look for its second consecutive CAA opening victory after knocking off eventual league champion James Madison 65-59 in overtime last season. The Tribe is 1-2 in CAA openers in
Ed Swanson's tenure and is just 1-4 in the last five years. Delaware and W&M met in the CAA opener during the 2013-14 season.
Triple Threat
Junior
Abby Rendle recorded her second career triple-double in the Tribe's win over East Carolina on Dec. 28. The junior notched 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks. It was second triple-double in the 2016 calendar year after she recorded one against UNCW on Jan. 22, 2016. Rendle owns both triple-doubles in W&M program history.
Cleaning Up the Glass
After failing to win the battle of the boards in three of the first contests, W&M has controlled the glass in five of the last six contests. The Tribe has not lost this season when they have won the battle of the glass. For the season, the Green Gold is getting and giving up 36.5 rebounds.
A Not so Long December
W&M won all six of its games in the month of December to post its first perfect month since January of 1978. It is just the fourth time in program history that the Tribe has recorded a perfect month that at least four games were played.
