WILLIAMSBURG, Va.— Returning to the hardwood after a 15-day hiatus, William & Mary women's basketball begins CAA league play at Monmouth on Friday evening at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FloHoops with an audio broadcast on the Tribe Sports Network. The game will also be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia for those in eastern and central Pennsylvania and central New Jersey and Delaware.
Fans can keep up with W&M women's basketball by following the program on social media as well. Be sure to check out the Tribe on Twitter (@WMTribeWBB), Facebook (WMTribeWBB), and Instagram (WMTribeWBB).
A New Way to Listen
New this year, the Tribe Sports Network will be providing free audio broadcasts of all W&M women's basketball away contests. Jack Angelucci will be on the call with a pregame show beginning at 6:40 p.m. featuring a pregame interview with Erin Dickerson Davis. Fans can listen at tribeathletics.com/listenlive.
TRIBE NOTES
• The Matchup
William & Mary returns to action after a 15 day hiatus to begin CAA league play at Monmouth on Friday. The Tribe wrapped up the non-conference schedule at 4-7, a slate that was considered the toughest in the CAA by some pundits. They continue their trip north at Hofstra on Sunday.
• The Opponent
The Hawks went on a postseason run last year to win the CAA Tournament and earn a trip the NCAA Tournament, and are off to a solid start this year at 7-4. They got back into the swing of things by playing Georgian Court, a non-DI opponent, on New Year's Day, winning 91-51. They have won five straight games.
• Last Time Out
William & Mary gave their all in an uphill battle on the road at No. 15 Virginia Tech on Dec. 21. The Tribe led at the end of the first quarter and trailed 27-24 at the half, holding the Hokies to a season-low in points for a half. VT flexed their muscles in the second half, outscoring the Tribe 49-19 to win 76-43. Bella Nascimento scored a season-high 22 points in the loss, one shy of her career-high.
•It's Been a Minute
The 15 days between games is the second longest in-season layoff for W&M since 1984-85. The only break that beats this year's was the 19 day hiatus the Tribe had in 2021-22, finishing non-con with Norfolk State on 12/19 and starting CAA play with JMU on 1/7. Prior to 1985 it was customary for women's basketball to take almost a month off at the semester break.
• "I'll Do it Myself." -Bella (probably)
When the Tribe found themselves up 14-13 at No. 15 Virginia Tech after one quarter, there was only one name on the W&M scoresheet, Bella Nascimento. Nascimento scored all 14 Tribe points in the frame on 5-8 FG and 3-4 from 3-point land. She outscored the Hokies single-handedly and posted the high watermark for points in a quarter from a Tribe player this year.
• 60 is the Magic Number
The Tribe has held their opponents under 60 points in all three of their wins this season, while opponents have scored over 60 in all six W&M losses. The Tribe is 10-2 under Erin Dickerson Davis when holding teams below 60. While team's have had a mixed bag of success scoring in the 60s vs. W&M, opponents are 23-3 against them when scoring 70+ since 2020-21.
• Protecting the Rock
The Tribe has held their opponents under 60 points in all three of their wins this season, while opponents have scored over 60 in all six W&M losses. The Tribe is 10-2 under Erin Dickerson Davis when holding teams below 60. While team's have had a mixed bag of success scoring in the 60s vs. W&M, opponents are 23-3 against them when scoring 70+ since 2020-21.
• Nylon Nylah
Despite only playing six minutes and being held scoreless at Virginia Tech due to the stomach bug, Nylah Young is still currently the CAA's leading scorer at 16.5 ppg. Young has posted 5 games of 20 or more, and set a Tribe program record by scoring 29 in the season opener. She also became the first W&M player to score 20+ in four of a season's first five games.
• The Energizer Bella
Bella Nascimento has been a constant on the floor for W&M, and is currently fourth in the CAA in minutes per game (33.8). The former Manhattan Jasper set a career-high in minutes at FIU playing 39. She's played at least 33 minutes in eight of the 11 games and earned FIU Thanksgiving Classic MVP honors. She has led the Tribe in scoring five of the last six games. Nascimento ranks 9th in the CAA at 13.8 ppg.
• Formidable Opponents
William & Mary's non-conference slate was set up to be a challenging one and proved to be. The seven teams who have beaten the Tribe this year owned a combined record of 63-18 in the non-conference.
• Big Time Blowout
The Tribe's 38 point drubbing of Longwood was their largest win over a DI opponent since February 2014. W&M also scored over 85 points for the first time under Erin Dickerson Davis and first time since January of 2020. The Tribe's 52.3% from the field ranks second best in a single game since Davis took over and their third time above 50% in that span.
• Ringing in the New Year
The Tribe has had a mixed bag of success in their first game of a new calendar year. W&M is 4-6 in their last 10 outings to kick off the new year. Last year they opened up CAA play on New Year's Day with a loss to Northeastern.
