DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — William & Mary used a dominant second half to defeat Bethune-Cookman 64-52 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Edmunds Center. The Tribe, trailing 21-20 at halftime, outscored the Wildcats 42-31 after the break. Jana Sallman recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds for William & Mary, while Monet Dance added 14 points and 10 assists. Tyler Butler led Bethune-Cookman with 15 points. William & Mary improved to 7-4 overall. Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-10. Attendance was 605.

DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the William & Mary women’s basketball team to a 64-52 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at Edmunds Center. The Tribe, improving to 7-4, broke open a tight contest by holding the Wildcats to just nine points in the pivotal third period while scoring 20 of their own. After trailing 21-14 at halftime, William & Mary outscored Bethune-Cookman 20-9 in the quarter to seize a 42-30 lead entering the final frame and never looked back. William & Mary’s defense was the catalyst. The Tribe forced 15 Bethune-Cookman turnovers, converting them into 15 points, while committing only 12 themselves. The Wildcats (2-10) struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 29.8% overall and a frigid 12.5% from three-point range. William & Mary’s interior defense was particularly stout, limiting Bethune-Cookman to 18 points in the paint and blocking five shots. Offensively, William & Mary found its rhythm after a sluggish first half where it managed only 22 points. The Tribe improved its offensive rating to 89.1 for the game, capitalizing on second chances with 12 offensive rebounds leading to critical extra possessions. While shooting only 33.9% from the floor, William & Mary compensated by getting to the free-throw line consistently, making 21 of 27 attempts. Monet Dance, a 5-foot-3 guard from Roswell, Georgia, orchestrated the William & Mary attack with a double-double, scoring 14 points and dishing out 10 assists in 33 minutes. Her playmaking was central to the third-quarter run. She was complemented by a powerful performance from Jana Sallman, a 6-foot-3 forward from Cairo, Egypt, who posted 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for a double-double of her own. Bethune-Cookman was led by Tyler Butler, who finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Sanai Tyler added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, who could not sustain their early momentum. After a first quarter that ended with Bethune-Cookman leading 14-12, its offense stagnated, scoring only seven points in the second quarter before the decisive third-quarter drought. The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for 11 turnovers in the opening quarter. Bethune-Cookman built its early lead behind Butler, who scored six of her points in the first period. William & Mary stayed close despite shooting 4-of-15 in the quarter, with a late tip-in by Dynasti Pierce cutting the deficit to two. The second quarter saw the offensive struggles intensify. The teams combined for just 14 points total, with William & Mary edging the period 10-7. A three-pointer from Sophia LeGoullon with 2:16 remaining before halftime gave the Tribe a brief 19-17 lead, but Butler answered with a layup and a free throw to send Bethune-Cookman into the locker room with a 21-19 advantage. The complexion of the game changed entirely after halftime. William & Mary opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run, fueled by baskets from Sallman, Natalie Fox and Alexa Mikeska. Dance facilitated the action, finding cutters and exploiting seams in the Wildcat defense. Bethune-Cookman went scoreless for over four minutes during the stretch and managed only three field goals in the entire quarter. By the time the period ended, the Tribe had built a double-digit lead it would maintain for the remainder of the contest. Bethune-Cookman made a final push in the fourth quarter, matching William & Mary with 22 points, but could never cut the deficit below nine points. The Wildcats’ late effort, highlighted by a three-pointer from Madison Holden and a jumper from Holden off a turnover, was insufficient to mount a true comeback. William & Mary’s balanced effort included nine points from Kyah Smith and seven points apiece from Mikeska and Fox. The Tribe’s bench contributed 15 points and helped maintain defensive intensity throughout. The announced attendance was 605. William & Mary will open Colonial Athletic Association play on the road at North Carolina A&T on Jan. 2. Bethune-Cookman will travel to face Jacksonville on Dec. 30 before beginning Southwestern Athletic Conference action at home against Florida A&M on Jan. 3.

Hot William & Mary Looks to Extend Win Streak at Struggling Bethune-Cookman DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — The William & Mary women’s basketball team, riding a five-game winning streak, will look to continue its surge when it visits Bethune-Cookman in a nonconference matchup Saturday at Edmunds Center. The Tribe (6-4) arrives in Florida following an 81-75 road victory over Stetson on Friday night. William & Mary has not lost since Nov. 23, a stretch showcasing a potent offense that has averaged 71.4 points during the streak. A key catalyst has been Jana Sallman, who is coming off a dominant performance against Stetson with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes. Over the last four wins, Sallman is averaging 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. She is complemented by Natalie Fox and Monet Dance, who each added 20 points in Friday’s win. Bethune-Cookman (2-9) seeks to halt a four-game skid, most recently a 74-68 home loss to Stonehill on Friday. The Wildcats have faced a difficult schedule, including losses to Power Five programs Maryland and Miami, and have struggled offensively, scoring 55 points or fewer in seven games. A bright spot for the Wildcats has been forward Sanai Tyler, who nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s loss at Richmond. She recorded a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Livingstone on Dec. 6. William & Mary’s streak has been built on balanced scoring and efficient play, while Bethune-Cookman has been plagued by inconsistencies, particularly on offense. The game represents a final nonconference tune-up for both before each embarks on its conference schedule in early January. The Tribe begins Coastal Athletic Association play Jan. 2, while the Wildcats open Southwestern Athletic Conference action Jan. 3. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.