WILMINGTON, N.C. – For the third straight season, the William & Mary women's basketball team improved to 11-2 as it dispatched UNCW 66-53 on New Year's Eve. For the second time in three years the Tribe is now 2-0 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Seahawks drop to 7-6, 0-2 league action.
 
UNCW used an 11-3 run to build its largest lead of the game out of the gates. Timber Tate opened the rally with a 3-pointer, before Moriah Crisp matched it. After junior Bianca Boggs answered with a triple, Madison Raque had 3-pointer and Lacy Suggs hit a lay-up to give the Seahawks an 11-5 cushion midway through the opening stanza.
 
Again, W&M used a big second quarter to build a double-figure lead into the locker room. The Tribe outscored the Seahawks 27-15 in the frame. The Green and Gold used a 12-0 run to build its lead into double-digits where it stayed for the remainder of the contest. After the Seahawks scored the first basket of the quarter, senior Jenna Green scored the first five points of the spurt to give the Tribe its first lead since 2-0. The rally continued as classmate Abby Rendle hit a lay-up, Boggs added a 3-pointer, and Green closed the rally with a jumper to make it 24-14 with 5:03 left in the half.
 
Leading by 13, the Tribe used a 13-4 run to put the game out of reach late in the third quarter. Rendle sparked the rally with a lay-up, but UNCW answered. Rendle restarted the rally with a jumper, which was followed by a pair of free throws by Boggs, and lay-up by freshman Gabby Rogers. After a UNCW bucket, Green answered with a lay-up, and sophomore Nari Garner buried a triple to give W&M 58-36 advantage.    
 
W&M Starters - #2 Boggs, #11 Pollard, #12 Green, #24 Rendle #30 Reynolds
 
UNCW Starters - #2 Crisp, #5 Raque, #14 Tate, #21 DeGraaf, #32 Banks
 
Individual Leaders
Senior Jenna Green led the Tribe with a career-high 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, leading or tying for the team-best in all three categories. Junior Bianca Boggs also had 17 points and added two rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Senior Abby Rendle rounded out the Tribe's double-figure scorers with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, five blocks, and three steals.
 
Madison Raque and Chinyere Bell were both in double-figures for the Seahawks with 10 points apiece. Rebekah Banks added 12 rebounds in the contest for UNCW.
 
Inside the Numbers
- For the eighth time this season, W&M shot better than 45-percent from the field. The Tribe finished 28-of-57 for 49.1-percent from the floor.
 
- W&M forced UNCW into 19 turnovers on 10 steals in the contest. Senior Abby Rendle had a team-high three thefts for W&M.
 
- UNCW controlled the glass, outrebounding the Tribe 50-31. However, W&M is 7-1 when losing the rebounding battle.
 
- The Green and Gold blocked six shots in the game, including five from Rendle.
 
Notes
Senior Jenna Green was in double-figures for the third straight game and the 11th time this season with her career-high 17 points … It was the 23rd time in her career she was in double-figures … With her seven assists she now has 441 career assists, and needs 63 more to become the school's all-time leader … Junior Bianca Boggs was also in double-figures for the 11th time this season with her 17 … She now has been in double-figures four straight games, and has 28 career games with double-figure points … Senior Abby Rendle rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16, which was the 11th time this season and 47th time in her career she has been in double-figures … Rendle now has 929 career points and needs 71 more to become the 19th player in school history to score her 1,000th career point … Rendle's W&M and CAA block record now sits at 283 after her five today … W&M played just its seventh game ever on New Year's Eve and is now 3-4 on the holiday … The Tribe also now leads the series with UNCW 35-32, and won for the 13th time at UNCW ... W&M is now 11-2 for the third straight season, which is tied for its best 13-game start in school history ... The Green and Gold is also 2-0 in CAA play for the second time in three seasons and the fifth time in program history.
 
What's Ahead
W&M returns to Williamsburg for its next three-games starting on Friday, Jan. 5 when they play host to Drexel, which is also 2-0 in CAA play. The game will serve as the first Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night and all William & Mary faculty can claim complimentary tickets for themselves and up to 4 members of their immediate families.