Tribe to Play at Georgia State on Thursday

01/15/08 4:00PM

WILLIAMSBURG - The William and Mary women’s basketball team will look for its second consecutive conference victory when it plays at Georgia State on Thursday at 6 p.m.

In its last outing, the Tribe earned a 61-57 triumph against Delaware in Williamsburg. Sophomore Kelly Heath scored a career-high 14 points and added three steals, while junior Courtney Portell also tallied 14 points on four three-pointers. Senior Kyra Kaylor and junior Dani Kell also came up big with 11 points apiece.

Kaylor continues to lead the College in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg), while sophomore Tiffany Benson leads the conference with 2.27 bpg and has registered at least one rejection in 27 consecutive games. Portell ranks first in the Colonial Athletic Association with 3.2 three-pointers per game, a figure that ranks fifth nationally, and has made at least two three-pointers in all but three games this season. Senior Devin James and Portell also rank among the league’s best in steals, averaging 2.7 spg and 2.4 spg, respectively.

As a team, the Green and Gold lead the conference and rank 15th nationally with 7.3 three-pointers per game. Additionally, W&M ranks third in the league in rebounding (39.6 rpg), steals (11.47 spg) and blocks (3.73).

Georgia State enters Thursday’s contest with a 3-11 record overall and a 0-3 mark in league play. The Panthers have lost eight of their last nine games. Brittany Hollins leads the team with 14.1 ppg and is GSU’s lone player averaging double figures scoring, while Shay Rawls is the squad’s top rebounder (8.9 rpg).

The Tribe and Georgia State have played just five times, with all the meetings coming during the last three seasons. Last season, the Tribe swept both contests against the Lady Panthers, winning 77-76 in Atlanta and 55-53 (ot) in Williamsburg. Kaylor has played especially well against GSU during her career, averaging 22.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg and 2.8 spg in five contests.

Game Notes