WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary women's basketball team dropped a 64-49 decision to UNCW on Friday night at Kaplan Arena. With the setback, the Tribe drops 16-9, 7-7 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Seahawks improve 9-16, 2-12 in league action.
 
W&M started strong out of the gate, and used a 13-4 run to take the lead the same score six minutes into the contest. Junior Bianca Boggs canned a triple to start the scoring, and senior Jenna Green added lay-up to make it 5-0. After the Seahawks cut it to one, sophomore Victoria Reynolds hit a lay-up, before freshman Nyla Pollard and sophomore Nari Garner connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 13-4 with 3:59 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Tribe extended its lead to 11 early in the second quarter, but UNCW closed the half on 11-2 run to take the lead into the locker room. Paige Powell opened the run with a lay-up, before Madison Racque hit a jumper, and Diamond Willis had a putback. After Rendle pushed it back to a 3-point cushion, Timber Tate knocked down a 3-triple to tie it, before Moriah Crisp hit two from the line to take 31-29 lead at halftime.
 
UNCW extended its lead to 13 points late in the third quarter, but W&M responded with a 9-0 run to bring it back to four points. Rendle opened the run with a free throw, before she converted a lay-up. Reynolds and Rendle added another lay-up to cut it to six, 47-41, at the end of the third quarter. Rendle connected on two at the stripe to open the scoring in the final quarter, but that's as close as the Tribe could get.
 
The Seahawks put the game away with five straight puts and hit their free throws down the stretch to pull away with the victory. After the Green and Gold cut it to four, Rebekah Banks hit a lay-up, Timber Tate added one, and Lacey Suggs added two from the stripe to extend back to a 10-point cushion. Garner connected on another triple, but UNCW was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line down the stretch to ice the win.
 
 
W&M Starters - #2 Boggs, #11 Pollard, #12 Green, #24 Rendle, #30 Reynolds
 
UNCW Starters - #Crisp, #5 Raque, #25 Willis #21 DeGraaf, #32 Banks
 
Individual Highlights
Senior Abby Rendle paced the Tribe with 15 points, eight rebounds, and a steal, leading two Tribe players in double-figures. For the fourth straight game, sophomore Nari Garner was in double-figures finishing with 14 points, one rebound, a block, and a steal. Both senior Jenna Green and sophomore Victoria Reynolds finished with seven points apiece. Green added a rebound and four assists, while Reynolds finished with nine boards, four assists, a block, and three steals.
 
Jenny DeGraaf led all scores with a double-double as she had 17 points and 16 rebounds. Lacey Suggs was in the only Seahawk in double-figures off of the bench with 12 points and seven boards, while Rebekah Banks added 14 rebounds in the victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
- W&M was ice cold from the floor, shooting just 30.5-percent (18-of-59). The Tribe shot just 7-of-22 from 3-point land and 6-of-11 from the free throw line.
 
- UNCW controlled the glass and outrebounded W&M, 55-28.
 
- W&M did force the Seahawks into 17 turnovers, but could only convert those into 10 points.
 
Notes
Senior Abby Rendle was in double-figures for the 18th time this season, and the 54th time of her career … Sophomore Nari Garner was in double-figures for the fourth straight game, and hit four more 3-pointers … It was the 10th time of the season and her career she had double-figure points.
 
What's Ahead
W&M closes its split weekend with a road game at Drexel on Sunday, Feb. 18. Tip-off between the Tribe and the Dragons is set for 2 p.m.