WILMINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — The William & Mary women’s basketball team delivered a dominant defensive performance Sunday, holding UNC Wilmington to a season-low in points in a decisive 60-41 Colonial Athletic Association victory at Trask Coliseum.

The Tribe (14-13, 8-8 CAA) never trailed, opening the game on a 6-0 run and steadily building a lead that grew to as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks (6-21, 3-13) struggled to generate consistent offense all afternoon, shooting just 29.2 percent from the floor and committing 20 turnovers, which William & Mary converted into 18 points.

The most pivotal stretch of the game came early, setting a tone of defensive intensity from which UNC Wilmington never recovered. After the Seahawks’ McCall King scored their first basket nearly 90 seconds into the game, William & Mary responded with a 10-2 run over the next four minutes. The sequence was fueled by relentless defensive pressure, including steals by Cassidy Geddes and Monet Dance that led directly to fast-break layups. The Tribe forced five first-quarter turnovers and held UNC Wilmington to 5-of-14 shooting in the opening period, establishing a 16-12 lead they would only expand.

William & Mary’s defense was the story, holding the Seahawks to just five points in the fourth quarter and 12 points in each of the middle two periods. The Tribe’s 13 steals and four blocks were part of a comprehensive effort that limited UNC Wilmington to an offensive rating of 58.8 points per 100 possessions. William & Mary also controlled the glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points, while the Seahawks managed only three offensive boards.

Offensively, William & Mary used a balanced attack. Cassidy Geddes, a guard from Hickory, North Carolina, led the Tribe with 12 points, adding three steals and a block. Monet Dance of Roswell, Georgia, orchestrated the offense with 11 points and a game-high five assists. Marley Long contributed 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double.

Despite the lopsided score, UNC Wilmington’s Mary Ferrito turned in a standout individual effort. The guard from Plain City, Ohio, scored a game-high 18 points, dished out five assists and recorded a steal and a block in 38 minutes. Kylah Silver added nine points for the Seahawks.

William & Mary improved to .500 in conference play with the win, snapping a two-game skid that included a 70-48 loss at College of Charleston on Friday. The Tribe also completed a regular-season sweep of UNC Wilmington, having won the first meeting 79-68 on Feb. 1.

UNC Wilmington, which has lost three straight and nine of its last 10, was coming off a 75-43 loss at Hofstra. The Seahawks’ 41 points marked their lowest output of the season.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 923 at Trask Coliseum. William & Mary shot 36.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. The Tribe committed 15 turnovers but assisted on 13 of their 22 made field goals.

William & Mary returns home to host Elon on Thursday. UNC Wilmington travels to face North Carolina A&T, also on Thursday.