W&M News and Notes
- The Tribe is the No. 7 seed going into this weekend's tournament. As a team, the Tribe was picked eighth in the preseason standings by the vote of the league coaches. Last season, W&M was picked eighth in the preseason before opting due to COVID for the remainder of the 2020-21 season on Feb. 12 after completing 13 games (6-7, 3-5 CAA).
- W&M will meet the Blue Hens for the third time this season. The last time the Tribe matched up with the Blue Hens, the Tribe fell short 67-45 at the Bob Carpenter Center. Graduate student
Riley Casey led the Tribe with 10 points, junior
Bre Bellamy (8), while freshman
Dani McTeer and
Ava Stevenson both contributed seven points apiece. Graduate student
Kate Sramac led the Tribe in rebounds with six.
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Sydney Wagner has been one of the Tribe's most dynamic players this season. Recently named to the All-CAA Third Team, Wagner has a team-best of 22 double-figure performances this season, including six straight. Wagner is averaging 14.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, with 3.3 assists per game, and is shooting 91.8% from the charity stripe. Amongst the league leaders, Wagner ranks first in free throw %, seventh in assists (3.3), and first in minutes played averaging 36.8. Most recently the Phoenixville, Pa., native became a member of the 1k club in the Tribe win against UNCW on Feb.3.
- Graduate student
Riley Casey is one of the Green & Gold's most prolific scores. The Brentwood Tenn. native has led the Tribe in scoring 11 times this season averaging 14.5 points per game and just nine points shy of recording 1,000 career points. Casey leads the CAA with 2.67 three-pointers per game and tops the conference in a three-point field goal percentage (38.1%). Casey was recently named to the All-CAA Third Team. Her seven 3-pointers vs. Charleston Jan.16, were tied for the 2nd most in W&M history.
- Junior
Bre Bellamy has led the Tribe in scoring four times this year. Bellamy averages 8.4 points per game, leads the Green and Gold in blocks per game, and is second in rebounds averaging 5.1 per contest. Bellamy is one of two players on the team to record a double-double this season, with 11 points and 14 rebounds in the Tribe's win against UMES, on Nov., 23.
- Graduate Student
Kate Sramac has proven to be one of Swanson's most consistent players this season. Sramac has started in all 29 contests, leading the team in rebounds averaging 5.7 per contest. Amongst the league leaders, Sramac ranks eighth in assists with 3.1 per game and 11th in steals at (1.6).
- Freshmen duo
Dani McTeer and
Ruthie Montella rank amongst the top CAA Rookies, as both were recently named to the All-CAA Rookie Team this season. McTeer has started in 27 of the 29 contests and recorded her first collegiate double-double, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds in the Tribe's match-up against Elon Mar. 3. Montella has come off the bench in 20 contests and has led the team in assist four times and led once in scoring this season.
- The Tribe has been impressive from the free-throw line this season, ranking first in the CAA. On 13 separate occasions this year, the Tribe has knocked down at least 10 free throws and the team has shot over 80% five times. Individually,
Sydney Wagner,
Kate Sramac,
Riley Casey,
Ava Stevenson,
Ruthie Montella, and
Madison Magee all are shooting over 76% on the year.
- The Green & Gold has been one of the most ferocious three-point defenses in Division I this season. William & Mary leads the CAA in three-pointers per game (6.9) and is first in team three-point field goal percentage 32%. On eight separate occasions this season, the Tribe has held the opposition to below 21% from the three-point line.
- The Tribe has held three opponents to 50 points or fewer this season, winning each of those three games. Under head coach
Ed Swanson, the Tribe has held opponents to under 50 points in 29 games and are 28-1 in those contests.
- W&M head coach
Ed Swanson enjoyed a noteworthy 2019-20 season individually. He was named the CAA Co-Coach of the Year following the Tribe's historic season. Swanson won his 500th career game on Nov. 26, became just the third coach in W&M history to win 100 games with the Tribe on Jan. 12, and was inducted into the Northeast Conference Hall of Fame in January.
