Benson Totals School-Record Seven Blocks to Lead W&M Past UNCW, 67-57

02/24/08 4:40PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Sophomore Tiffany Benson registered a school-record seven blocks, a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the William and Mary women’s basketball team to a 67-57 victory at UNC Wilmington on Sunday afternoon. The triumph snapped the Seahawks' five-game winning streak.

Freshman Katherine DeHenzel also nearly earned a school record with eight steals, coming just one shy of the single-game record. The Bowie, Md., native also dished out six assists. Sophomore Kelly Heath tallied 15 points, while senior Kyra Kaylor totaled 11 points and nine boards. Senior Devin James also finished in double figures scoring (11) and became the sixth player in school history to total more than 1,300 career points.

As a team, the Tribe (12-15, 6-9) limited the Seahawks (16-10, 7-8) to just 39.6 percent shooting. Additionally, the College tallied 13 steals and forced UNCW into 20 turnovers.

The Seahawks utilized five early points by Brittany Blackwell to take a 5-0 advantage just 2:39 into the contest. However, W&M quickly cut the lead to just one after a pair of jumpers by James.

While the Seahawks pushed the margin to six, 10-4, with another 5-0 run, the College charged back shortly thereafter with a 5-0 spurt of its own. James tallied all five of the points, coming on a three-pointer and a put-back, as she had nine of the Tribe’s initial 11 points during the opening eight minutes of play.

The Green and Gold evened the score, 16-16, following a free throw by Heath with 8:47 showing, but UNCW once again scored five unanswered points during the next 3:19 to take a 21-16 edge.

A pair of free throws by Kaylor at the 1:49 mark gave W&M its first lead of the game, and Portell followed with a three-pointer in the final minute as the Tribe closed the half with a 7-2 run.

The College held a 28-26 lead at the break and limited UNCW to just 35.5 percent shooting in the opening stanza. Individually, James led the Tribe with nine points, while Benson added six points and four blocks.

Little changed during the opening minutes of the second half as W&M led 34-30 at the initial media timeout.

Although UNCW narrowed the margin to one, 36-35, following a layin by Greta Luksyte with 13:16 remaining, the College rattled off six straight points during the next 3:21 to go ahead, 42-35.

While the Seahawks fought back with a 7-0 run to even the count at 42-42 with 8:02 remaining, the Tribe answered with 13 consecutive points to break the game open. Benson came up big during the stretch with seven points.

A three-pointer by Heath with 3:05 left pushed the College’s lead to 58-44, and UNCW was unable to get closer than nine points the rest of the way.

The Tribe will return to action when it hosts Hofstra on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Box Score