Portell leaves her mark at William & Mary

David Driver For the News & Messenger
Published: March 14, 2008

NEWARK, Del.

Courtney Portell was all set to play soccer at George Mason University. The former Forest Park High soccer and basketball standout made a verbal commitment to the Patriots and looked forward to playing one season in Fairfax as a freshman with her sister, Kristin, a former Mason soccer player.

But then William & Mary women's basketball coach Debbie Taylor entered the picture. "She didn't even know who I was," said Portell, who was overshadowed in prep hoops by Monica Wright (Virginia) and Ashleigh Braxton (Pittsburgh). "I don't think you are going to get a better education than William &  Mary."

The Tribe made a late push to recruit the 5-foot-8 Portell for basketball, and three seasons later the junior guard from Woodbridge is making the decision pay off for both sides. Portell broke a 14-year-old school record for 3-pointers in a season this year at William and Mary.

She had 68 long-range shots in regular-season play and hit her first three shots from 3-point range as No. 7 seed William & Mary beat No. 10 seed Georgia State 82-60 Thursday in the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the University of Delaware.

"When she is on, you have to watch out for her," Taylor said of Portell, 20.

Portell had 11 points in a team-high 32 minutes for the Tribe as a starter. She made three of six shots from 3-point range, and had three rebounds, one assist and one steal. The Tribe lost to No. 2 seed James Madison on Friday at noon. Portell had 71 3-pointers through Thursday's play.

"It was huge," Georgia State coach Lea Henry said of Portell's shots in the first half. "We knew coming in she was a good shooter. We were late" getting a hand in her face.

Portell, during the regular-season, played in 28 of 30 games with 17 starts and averaged 26.9 minutes and 8.6 points per game. She had 40 assists and 47 steals. She averaged just 6.6 points per game in CAA contests.

Portell led the Tribe in scoring in three straight non-CAA games midway through the season. She had a career-high 24 points in a win at Howard on Dec. 9, 21 points in a loss at home to Duquesne on Dec. 20 and 23 against Iona in a loss on Dec. 28. Portell had seven 3-pointers in all three games to set a school mark for treys in a game.

"I was on fire," said Portell, who is studying sociology. "But I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates. We have a lot of good perimeter players and I can't create my own shot." Georgia State placed focus on the Tribe inside players, once again freeing Portell up from the outside.

She also led the Tribe with 15 points in a loss at home to Towson on Jan. 6 and had 14 in a win at home over Delaware on Jan. 13. That was the last time she led the team in scoring in a game this season.

"I have matured a lot since my freshman year," Portell said. "I think I have stepped into a leadership role. It's a natural flow."