WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Behind the third best shooting performance in school history and senior Janine Aldridge's 26 points, the William and Mary women's basketball team defeated Old Dominion, 73-69, on Sunday afternoon at Kaplan Arena.  Leading 71-69 with 11 seconds remaining in the contest, W&M denied the Monarch's in the waning moments of regulation as it beat ODU for the second time in as many tries dating back to last season.   The win improves the Green and Gold's record to 4-14 on the year and 2-5 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while ODU falls to 13-6 on the season and 4-3 in league action.

In the season-long Optima Health Challenge, today's victory, which was worth five points, gives William and Mary a 40-30 lead over Old Dominion.

Aldridge poured in a game-high 26 points on a career-best 11 made field goals on 15 attempts.  The Massapequa, N.Y., native finished the afternoon with four steals and four 3-pointers.  Junior Kaitlyn Mathieu posted her third career double-double, which consisted of a career tying 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Senior Jaclyn McKenna netted 11 points, while classmate Taylor Hilton chipped in with six points and six rebounds.  Sophomore Jazmen Boone tallied seven points and six assists, while classmate Anna Kestler tied a career-best with seven assists.

W&M finished the contest shooting 56.6 percent (30-of-53) from the floor, the third highest percentage in school history, which included a 66.7 percent (18-of-27) effort in the second half.  Against the CAA's top 3-point percentage defense, the Tribe shot 40 percent (8-of-20) from the beyond the arc.  Furthermore, the Green and Gold owned the advantage in fast break points (26-11) rebounds (35-31), and bench points (20-19).  The Tribe capitalized on 18 Old Dominion turnovers, which resulted in 20 points for the Green and Gold. 

The Tribe held the advantage for the majority of the first half as Mathieu's second 3-pointer of the afternoon gave W&M its first lead, 8-5, at the 16:22 mark.

With the contest tied, 11-11, at the 14:33 juncture, the Green and Gold utilized a 12-3 run as it opened its largest lead of the half, 23-14, with 10:16 left to play.  The burst originated on a press breaking 3-pointer which Aldridge buried at the 13:35 juncture.  Senior Chanel Murchison capped the nine-point advantage with a fast break lay up off of a feed from Boone.

Towards the end of the opening half, Old Dominion answered with a run of its own as Shae Kelley's bucket with 47 seconds remaining gave the Monarchs a one-point edge, 31-30, at intermission.

Second half action opened with ODU pushing its lead to seven, 42-35, after Kelley connected on a foul shot at the 16:39 mark.  However, the Green and Gold countered with an impressive 7-0 run that tied the tilt at the 13:45 juncture. Hilton's jumper fueled the charge, while Mathieu's lay up knotted the contest up at 42. 

After ODU went back ahead, 47-44, on the ensuing possession, W&M took control of the affair as it reeled off a 12-2 spurt, which gave the Tribe a 56-49 lead with 9:28 left to play in regulation.  Aldridge and Mathieu combined for eight points during the stretch, while McKenna accounted for the additional four points.

The Green and Gold opened its largest lead of the day, 63-53, after Aldridge's lay up at the 7:15 mark.  However, Old Dominion scrapped its way back into the affair after a pair of Jackie Cook free throws tied the contest for the seventh time with 2:36 left to play.

W&M took the lead for good, 71-69, when Boone drove left past an ODU defender and laid it in off the glass as the shot clock expired at the 2:07 juncture.

Over the final two minutes, neither team was able to score as the intensity and effort was amped up on both ends.  With 19 seconds left to play, Old Dominion was down to their last possession, which resulted in McKenna drawing a game clinching offensive foul on Kelley.  Hilton proceeded to net two foul shots with four seconds left as the Tribe secured the 73-69 triumph.

Kelley led ODU with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Cook finished the contest with 12 points and six rebounds.  For the game, Old Dominion shot 25-of-64 (39.1 percent) from the floor, which included a 10-of-25 (40 percent) effort from 3-point range.

Tribe women's basketball returns to action at UNCW on Thursday, Jan. 31.  Tip-off at Trask Coliseum is slated from 7 p.m. and fans can follow the action online TribeAthletics.com with live stats.