WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—The William & Mary women's basketball team hits the road again to face another Commonwealth foe. The Tribe will take on Old Dominion on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Norfolk. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a free audio broadcast on the Tribe Sports Network.
Tribe Sports Network
For the second consecutive year, the Tribe Sports Network will be providing free audio broadcasts of all W&M women's basketball away contests. Jack Angelucci and Erik Stauderman will be on the call with a pregame show beginning at 6 p.m. featuring a pregame interview with
Erin Dickerson Davis. Fans can listen at
tribeathletics.com/listenlive.
TRIBE NOTES
• The Matchup
For the 100th time, William & Mary and Old Dominion square up in women's hoops for a "757" rivalry. The Tribe will look to end a six-game losing streak with the Monarchs as tip is set for 6:30 p.m. in Norfolk.
•
The Opponent
After a setback in their season opener to Miami (OH), ODU has rattled off four straight wins to come into Tuesday's matchup 4-1. Stingy defense has been the key for the Monarchs who rank in the bottom half of the Sun Belt so far offensively, they are only allowing 55.8 points per game while holding opponents to 23.8% from deep.
• Last Time Out
W&M ran into a buzz-saw on Thursday night at Robins Center, falling to a scorching-hot Richmond team 82-47. The Tribe found themselves down just 10 at the halfway mark of the third before the Spiders went on a 18-2 run, coasting to the win. UR shot 60% from the floor and just below 50% from three.
• Running the Gauntlet
Saying that the Tribe's schedule to open the season has been challenging would be an understatement. The four teams that have beaten the Tribe this season currently have a combined record of 19-5. All of those games were on the road as well.
• Ballin' Bella
Bella Nascimento has provided consistent scoring for the Tribe so far this season. The senior guard has scored in double figures all five games this season including back-to-back 21-point games to open the season. She is one game shy of tying her career best of six straight games with 10+ which she accomplished at Manhattan.
Back-to-Back for KB
Graduate center
Kayla Beckwith has posted 10 points in each of the last two contests for W&M, marking just the second time in her career she has scored in double figures in consecutive games. The first time she accomplished the feat was three years ago as a sophomore.
• Ready From the Jump
The Tribe's 29 first quarter points against Chowan were the most by W&M in an opening quarter since scoring 30 against USC Upstate in 2017. They also rank as the third most first frame points in program history since the women's game switched to quarters in 2015-16. The Tribe's 31 at Northeastern in Jan. 2016 is the most all-time.
• Speaking of Strong Starts...
W&M's 29-6 advantage after the first quarter against Chowan ties the largest lead the Tribe have ever held after one in the quarters era (2015-16). W&M held a 27-4 lead over Hofstra after the first in 2020.
• Locking it Down
The Tribe's 42 points allowed against Chowan is the least number of points given up by W&M under
Erin Dickerson Davis. The Tribe only gave up 31 against Randolph College in 2021, the last time they held a team to 42 points or less.
• Newfound Height
The Tribe adds six new players to the roster in 2024-25, four freshmen and two transfers. Five of the six newcomers are over 6-feet tall. The average height of the six new players is slightly over 6'1, while the average height of the eight returners is 5'9.
• Speaking of Height...
Freshman
Natalie Fox is the Tribe's tallest newcomer, as well as tallest player, this season at 6-foot-4. She is the tallest player W&M has had since Abby Rendle, also at 6-foot-4, who graduated in 2018
• Turning Defense to Offense
W&M held Chowan to just 24.2% shooting, the lowest shooting percentage for an opponent during
Erin Dickerson Davis' tenure. The Tribe also scored a season-high 19 fastbreak points against the Hawks.
• Nice Start for Nat
Natalie Fox has already made an impact off the bench for the Tribe, posting a double-double in her second collegiate game. Fox snagged 12 rebounds and added 10 points against Long Beach. The 12 boards were the most by a W&M player since Dec. 2020 and the most by a freshman in over a decade.
•Punching the Time Clock
All eight of the returners for W&M played in at least 24 games last year and averaged over 10 minutes per game, accounting for 84% of minutes and 81% of starts for the Tribe a season ago. The group also accounted for 94% of the Tribe's assists last year and 70.7% of last year's scoring.
• Coach E Extended
W&M Director of Athletics, Brian Mann, announced in late August that head coach
Erin Dickerson Davis had agreed to a contract extension through 2029. Through two seasons Davis became the fastest coach to 20 CAA wins in program history and fastest to 30 career wins in 95 years.
• Preseason Accolades
Bella Nascimento earned Preseason All-CAA Second Team honors on Oct. 18 and is the Tribe's returning leading scorer at 12.4ppg.
Cassidy Geddes earned a preseason honorable mention coming off her CAA All-Rookie honors last year. W&M was picked tied for fourth in the preseason poll.
• 60 is the Magic Number
60 points is a key number for W&M. The Tribe is 18-5 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 30-4 against them when scoring 70+ since 2020-21. Offensively, the Tribe is 32-12 when scoring over 60 and 2-19 when held below 60 under Davis.
• Pack Your Bags
From Nov. 29 until Jan. 3 the Tribe will not play a game at home. The 35 straight days without a home game is the fifth longest stretch in DI.
• A Look Back
W&M enters year three of the
Erin Dickerson Davis era fresh off their second consecutive winning season (15-14), and second consecutive 12-6 mark in CAA play. The Tribe finished fifth in CAA posting back-to-back top-five finishes in the conference for the first time since 2007. During last year's non-conference W&M also won the FIU Thanksgiving Classic.
