NORFOLK, Va. – The William & Mary women's basketball couldn't overcome a 10-0 run to start the second half as it fell to Hampton Roads rival Old Dominion (6-2) 83-69 on Saturday afternoon in Norfolk. Redshirt sophomore Harper Birdsong  ed the Tribe (5-4) with a game and career-high 18 points.
 
Leading 9-6, Old Dominion used a 5-0 run to build an eight point cushion with 4:24 left in the first quarter. Amari Young scored four straight points, before Ajah Wayne added a free throw.
 
The Monarchs extended their lead to 10 at 1:16 left in the first quarter, but W&M used a 15-1 run to take its largest lead of the first half. Birdsong scored four in a row, before junior Victoria Reynolds had two at the line to end the first quarter. Freshman Gabby Rogers and senior Misha Jones each had jumpers to level the score, but ODU added a free throw to retake the lead. However, Jones added two more and Birdsong canned a triple to give W&M a 25-21 lead with 6:26 left in the second stanza.
 
ODU scored the first 10 points of the second half to take a 46-34 lead, and never relinquished it. Miariah Adams, Maggie Robinson, and Hudson started the spurt with three straight lay-ups, before Robinson capped the run with four straight points.
 
The Tribe pulled within six points twice in the third quarter, but that is as close as it got. ODU built its lead to as many as 15 points and picked up 83-69 victory.
 
W&M Starters - #2 Boggs, #10 Hodgson, #11 Pollard, #25 Rogers, #30 Reynolds
 
ODU Starters – #3 Wayne, #5 Morris, #11 Edwards, #20 Robinson, #23 Young
 
Individual Highlights
Redshirt sophomore Harper Birdsong paced the Tribe with a game and career-high 18 points, four assists, and two rebounds. Senior Bianca Boggs was also in double-figures with 17 points, including 13 in the second half, with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Junior Victoria Reynolds finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
 
ODU was paced by Taylor Edwards, who finished with 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. Both Ajah Wayne (15 points) and Victoria Morris (13 points) were also in double-figures.
 
Inside the Numbers
- W&M shot 37.7-percent (26-of-69) from the floor in the setback, and also shot just 3-of-23 from three for just 13-percent from range. Both numbers from 3-point land were season lows.
 
- ODU attempted 42 free throws compared to just 17 for W&M.
 
- The Monarchs also held a slight 44-37 cushion on the glass.
 
- W&M's bench outscored the Monarchs' 27-17.
 
Notes
Senior Bianca Boggs became the eighth Tribe player under head coach Ed Swanson to appear in 100 career games with her start today … Boggs was in double figures for the seventh time this season and the 49th time in her career … Redshirt sophomore Harper Birdsong was in double-figures for the fifth time in six games … It was the sixth time in her career she was in double-figures and the 18 points were a career-high … Junior Victoria Reynolds was in double-figures for the seventh time this season and 26th time in her career … Sophomore Bailey Eichner matched a career-high with 11 minutes played and set a career-highs with six rebounds and two steals.
 
What's Ahead
W&M has a 13-day layoff for final exams before it returns to action at Norfolk State on Friday, Dec. 21. Tipoff between the Tribe and the Spartans is set for 2 p.m.