Kelly Heath Scores Career-High 25 Points to Lead W&M past UNCW, 72-62

01/31/08 10:00PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Sophomore Kelly Heath scored a career-high 25 points to lead the William and Mary women’s basketball team to a 72-62 triumph against UNC Wilmington on Thursday evening at Kaplan Arena.

Heath finished the night 11-of-19 from the field and added eight rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Senior Devin James also came up big with 13 points and three steals, while freshman Katherine DeHenzel contributed 10 points and six assists. Senior Kyra Kaylor was the game’s leading rebounder with 14 boards.

The Tribe (10-10, 4-4) out-shot UNCW (11-8, 2-6) 45.8 percent to 39.6 percent. Additionally, the College connected on 61.5 percent of its attempts in the second half.

While the Seahawks registered the contest’s initial basket, Heath scored six unanswered points for W&M as UNCW was forced to use its first timeout just 2:40 into the game. Following the break, Kaylor converted a traditional three-point play to cap off a 9-0 run.

A jumper by Heath at the 12:47 mark gave the Tribe its first double-digit lead, 16-6, but UNCW mounted a comeback with seven unanswered points during the next 2:17.

The College countered the Seahawks’ run with eight straight points of its own to take its biggest lead of the game, 24-13, with 8:51 showing. Oblinger punctuated the stretch with a three-pointer from the right wing.

Although comfortably ahead following Oblinger’s long-range bucket, the Tribe scored just three points during the remainder of the half. UNCW capitalized on the scoring drought and recorded the final 12 points of the stanza to take a 29-27 lead into the locker room.

At the intermission, Heath led all scorers with 12 points, while Kaylor already had eight boards.

While the Seahawks briefly pushed the margin to five, 34-29, early in the second half, the Green and Gold reclaimed the lead with an 8-2 run. Heath once again played a pivotal role during the stretch, as she scored six points.

Although UNCW retook the lead, 42-41, with 12:55 remaining, the College charged ahead with eight unanswered points. James ignited the spurt with back-to-back three-pointers, while a jumper by sophomore Lindsey Moller at the 11:22 mark completed the run.

W&M never looked back as it extended the margin to as many as 21 points en route to earning the triumph.

The Tribe will return to action when it hosts James Madison on Sunday at 2 p.m. The contest will be part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) “Think Pink” initiative, and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

Box Score