Tribe Women’s Basketball Defeats Delaware, 73-62

Kell Records Career-High 26 Points; Tribe Sets School Record For Field Goal Percentage

01/22/06 3:47PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - William and Mary set a new school record by shooting 61.4% from the floor, connecting on 27 of its 44 attempts, as it powered past Delaware, 73-62, this afternoon at Kaplan Arena. The Tribe improves to 8-8, 4-3 in the CAA, while the Blue Hens fall to 13-3, 5-2 in the conference.

The College was led by freshman guard Dani Kell (Lutherville, MD), who set a career best with 26 points on 9-12 shooting (75.0%), which included a perfect 4-4 effort from three-point range. The offensive explosion spread across the team, as four Tribe starters reached double figures in scoring. Senior guard Lizzie Schiel (Wayne, PA) recorded 18 points on 7-10 shooting (70.0%), while sophomore forward Kyra Kaylor (Pittsburgh, PA) and sophomore Devin James (Pipersville, PA) added 13 and 11, respectively. Kaylor, who posted her 13th double-double in 16 games, led all players with 11 rebounds, while James grabbed nine boards as well. The Tribe defense held the Blue Hens to 33.3% shooting, while outrebounding Delaware 33-32 and recording six blocked shots. For the Blue Hens, guard Melissa Czorniewy scored a team-high 16 points.

W&M opened the game on a scoring spree, as a Kell three-pointer at the 15:47 mark, capped an 11-2 run. The Tribe would continue its strong defense in the first half, as it extended its lead to 17 as Schiel connected on a three-pointer with 6:51 to go in the period. The Blue Hens would close the gap to six as an Amanda Blackstone layup with 2:40 on the clock brought the score to 30-24. The Tribe responded with four unanswered points to end the half with a 34-24 advantage. W&M shot a blistering 68.2% from the field in the period a new school record for best in a half, while holding Delaware to 9-31 shooting (29.0%).

The Tribe wasted no time expanding its lead as the second half opened, jumping out on a 10-2 run as Kell connected off a feed from junior guard Sarah Stroh (Mission, British Columbia), one of her career-high 11 assists, to give the College its largest lead of the game at 44-26 with 16:42 remaining. However, the Blue Hens closed the gap on a 13-4 run, after a Courtney Irving layup left the score at 48-39 with 10:53 on the clock. Each team continued to battle, as the Tribe never lost its lead while the Blue Hens got as close as three after a Geneva Livingston three-pointer left the score at 55-52 with 6:32 to go. However, Delaware could not stop the Tribe offense with a Schiel three-pointer at the 2:19 mark giving the Tribe a 69-60 lead. After a Kaylor free throw increased the score to 73-60 with 38 seconds remaining, the Blue Hens could manage just two more points, as the Tribe notched its second straight CAA home victory.

The 61.4% effort was the first time in school history that the Tribe eclipsed 60% shooting in a game, as no player missed more than five shots. The hot shooting spread to the three-point line, as the College finished with a 57.1% effort (8-14) from beyond the arc.

The win gives the Tribe its first winning CAA record since the 2000-01 season when it started the year 1-0. Also, it was the Tribe’s first back-to-back wins in conference play since the 2001-02 season.

The Tribe will be back in action next Friday when it goes on the road to face Towson. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 at the Towson Center.


Box Score