Tribe Set to Host UNC Wilmington on Thursday

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01/29/08 11:00AM

WILLIAMSBURG - After two consecutive road games, the William and Mary women’s basketball team will return home when it hosts UNC Wilmington on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Tribe (9-10, 3-4) is coming off a 54-50 triumph at Drexel on Sunday afternoon. Senior Kyra Kaylor led the College in the victory, totaling a game-high 16 points with eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Kaylor also became the Colonial Athletic Association’s all-time leader in free throws made (479), breaking the previous mark (475) established by Delaware’s Tyresa Smith (2004-07).

Kaylor leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg), ranking among the league’s top five in both categories. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native has played especially well recently, averaging 19.0 ppg on 56.8 percent (25-of-44) shooting in the last four contests. Sophomore Kelly Heath has also come up big for the Tribe in recent games, scoring in double figures in five straight contests.

Sophomore Tiffany Benson continues to rank first in the CAA with 1.8 bpg, while junior Courtney Portell is tops in the conference and seventh in the nation with 3.0 three-pointers per game.

As a team, W&M ranks second in the league with 6.63 three-pointers per game and third in steals (11.74), a figure that ranks 18th in the country.

UNC Wilmington enters Thursday’s game with an 11-7 record overall and a 2-5 mark in league play. Although the Seahawks won eight of their first nine games to begin the season, they have posted just a 3-6 record in the last nine contests. Sahsha Taylor leads the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), while Brittany Blackwell is the squad’s top rebounder (7.4 rpg). Blackwell is also averaging 13.5 ppg. As a team, UNCW ranks second in the league in shooting percentage (.431) and thee-point shooting percentage (.365).

In a series that dates back to 1982, the Tribe holds a 27-21 advantage against UNC Wilmington. During the early ’90s, W&M earned 11 consecutive victories against the Seahawks. Last season, the Tribe won both meetings with UNCW, winning 60-50 in Williamsburg and 56-38 in Wilmington. Kaylor has played incredibly well versus the Seahawks during her career, averaging a double-double with 19.5 ppg and 11.0 rpg. Additionally, she is shooting 52.6 percent (40-for-76) from the field and 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from beyond the arc.

Game Notes