WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William & Mary women's basketball team dropped a 68-54 decision to Delaware inside Kaplan Arena on Friday night. The Blue Hens (11-8, 5-3 CAA), who won their fourth straight, used a strong first quarter to take control, and each time the Tribe (13-5, 3-4) drew closer, including within five just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, UD found the answer.
 
Senior Marlena Tremba led the Tribe with 16 points on 4-of-9 from 3-point range, while classmate Alexandra Masaquel added 10 points and a team-best six rebounds. Sophomore Bianca Boggs chipped in nine points for the Green and Gold.
 
After W&M scored the first four points on buckets from Tremba and junior Jenna Green less than 30 seconds into the game, Delaware used an 18-3 run over the remainder of the period to surge in front. The Blue Hens hit on eight of its final 10 shots from the field in the opening period to open up a double-double advantage.
 
Abby Gonzales (six) and Erika Brown (six) combined for 12 points during UD's 14-0 run in taking a 10-point advantage. Boggs briefly cut the gap to 14-7 with a 3-pointer at 1:35 mark to end the Tribe's scoring drought. Unfortunately, the visitors scored twice in the final 40 seconds to lead 18-7 at the first break.
 
After Delaware extended the margin to 13 with a pair of Makeda Nicholas free throws to start the second, W&M answered with a 10-2 run to cut into the deficit. Tremba started things with a triple, before junior Abby Rendle scored four straight, including a pair of free throws, to close the gap to 22-17 midway through the quarter. Delaware scored six straight to re-established a double-digit advantage, but the Tribe scored five straight, including a Tremba 3-pointer, to narrow the margin to 30-24 at the halftime.
 
Masaquel cut the margin to four, 30-26, with the first bucket of the second half, but UD responded eight straight to push it back to 13 points. Brown's 3-pointer at the 6:40 mark pushed the lead back to double figures, before Sade Chatman's layup with 4:29 left extended the cushion 41-28.  
 
W&M again fought its away back, drawing within five thanks to eight-straight points in just under a minute. Green started the run with a triple, while Boggs added an old-fashion three-point play. Freshman Victoria Reynolds canned down a jumper to close the gap to 41-36 with 3:28 remaining in the quarter.
 
The Delaware lead again ballooned to double figures in the third quarter, but Masaquel's lay-up less than 30 seconds into the final frame again made it a five-point game, 48-43. This time though, the Blue Hens landed the knockout blow, with a 9-0 run. Nicole Enabosi's three-point play highlighted the spurt, before a Kiersten West steal and fast-break lay-up at the 6:49 mark gave the visitor's the largest lead of the night at 57-43. W&M could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
 
W&M finished the night at 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range. On the other side, Delaware shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the floor and was 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) the free throw line. The Blue Hens held a commanding 41-26 advantage on the glass, including 18 offensive rebounds.
 
Brown led Delaware with 18 points, while Gonzales added 16 points and five assists. Enabosi tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 points. Nicholas rounded out the four double-digit scorers for UD with 10 points.
 
The Tribe returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 29, when it hosts rival James Madison in the first-ever Golden Game. Fans are encouraged to wear gold for the event, and the first 1,000 fans receive a gold Tribe Rally towel. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m., from Kaplan Arena and tickets are just $5. The game will be broadcast online for FREE in HD on Tribe Athletics TV via Stretch Internet.