WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary women's basketball team dropped a 72-55 decision to UNCW on Friday night in Kaplan Arena.
Tied at 42-42, UNCW (5-9, 2-1 CAA) used an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach late in the third quarter. Gigi Smith started the run with back-to-back baskets, before Lacey Suggs added a lay-up to push the lead to six. The run continued as Moriah Crisp hit a free throw, Ahyiona Vason scored, and Chinyere Bell added two free throws to make it 53-42 with 4.0 to go in the third. After a Tribe basket at the third-quarter buzzer, UNCW went on to score the first five points of the final quarter and extended its lead to as many 20.
Down five at halftime, W&M (10-4, 1-2 CAA) tied the score thanks to an 8-3 run to start the third quarter. Sophomore Eva Hodgson hit a triple to cut it two, but Bell answered with a basket. Senior Victoria Reynolds responded with lay-up and then teams traded a free throw. Junior Gabby Rogers' lay-up leveled the score at 40-40 with 6:13 left in the third quarter.
The Tribe had an early 5-0 spurt to take its largest lead in the first quarter. Hodgson had a traditional 3-point play before Rogers added a lay-up to make it 15-9 with 4:06 remaining in the opening period.
W&M Starters - #10 Hodgson, #11 Pollard, #20 Bellamy, #25 Rogers, #30 Reynolds
UNCW Starters – #1 Powell, #4 Munoz, #5 Smith, #10 Vason, #13 Suggs
Individual Highlights
Sophomore Eva Hodgson was the Tribe's leading scorer as she scored 15 points, grabbed three rebounds, had six assists, three steals, and three blocked shots. Senior Victoria Reynolds was the only other Tribe player in double-figures with 13 points. She grabbed seven boards, one assist, and a steal. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Wagner chipped in seven points and a rebound off of the bench.
Gigi Smith poured in a game-high 24 points to go with eight boards, three assists, and two steals to lead four Seahawks in double-figures. Paige Powell added 14 points, eight boards, and three blocks, while Lacey Suggs added 10 points, seven boards, three assists, and five steals. Chinyere Bell finished 11 points, four rebounds, and a block off of the bench.
Inside the Numbers
- W&M shot a season-low 35.2% (19-of-54) from the floor, and a season-low 19% (4-of-21) from 3-point range.
- UNCW won the rebounding battle 43-25.
- The Seahawks a had a slim, 32-28 lead in points in the paint, and outscored the Tribe 16-7 in transition.
Notes
Sophomore Eva Hodgson was in double-figures for the 14th straight time this season and the 15th time dating back to last season … She now has 31 career double-figure performances … Senior Victoria Reynolds also recorded her 10th double-digit effort of the season and moved her career total to 49 … With 13 points, Reynolds finished just one point shy of becoming the 21st player with 1,000 career points in school history.
What's Ahead
W&M closes its two-game weekend homestand as it plays hosts to Charleston on Sunday, Jan. 12. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. Sunday's game will also be youth team day and there will be a pre-game Kid Zone with face painting and poster making. Following the contest, the Tribe women's basketball team will be signing autographs.
