WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—The William & Mary women's basketball team looks to get in the win column when they travel to Long Beach State on Saturday for the program's first game in California in 20 years.
The Tribe and the Beach are set for a 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET tip on ESPN+ with a free audio broadcast available via 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 will be on the call with a pregame show beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET featuring a pregame interview with
Erin Dickerson Davis. Fans can listen at
tribeathletics.com/listenlive.
TRIBE NOTES
• The Matchup
For the first time since 2004 the Tribe heads to the state of California. The Tribe will take on Long Beach State at Walter Pyramid for a 5 p.m. ET tip on ESPN+ Saturday.
• The Opponent
Saturday's contest will serve as the season opener for LBSU, coming off a 15-18 record in head coach Amy Wright's first year. The Beach made it to the semifinals of the Big West tournament, losing to UC Irvine, and were picked fourth in the conference this preseason.
• 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.
• Last Time Out
Norfolk State used a second quarter run to separate themselves from W&M on Monday night, to down the Tribe 70-49. The Tribe trailed 16-15 after the first quarter, but never cut the lead to less than 12 in the second half.
Bella Nascimento led W&M with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
• Running it Back
Many key pieces from last year's roster return for the Tribe in 2024-25. Despite the loss of All-CAA First Team member
Nylah Young, W&M will return seven of its top eight scorers from a year ago, accounting for 70.7% of last year's scoring.
• 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.
• Collegiate Firsts
All four of the Tribe's freshmen saw action Monday in Norfolk.
Natalie Fox netted four points in her collegiate debut, while
Marley Long also picked up her first career bucket.
Emma West also earned her first college rebound.
• Avoiding the Whistle
W&M was only whistled for 10 fouls in the opener at NSU. For reference they were only called for 10-or-less fouls once all last year.
•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.
• 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.
• Getting to the Stripe
Last year the Tribe wore out the path to the free throw line, attempting 521 free throws, their most as a program since 2009-10.
• Got Height?
Speaking to the added height on this year's Tribe roster, freshman
Natalie Fox at 6-foot-4 is the tallest player W&M has had since 2017-18. Abby Rendle was a senior that season and was also 6'4.
•Don't Mind the Pressure
Just shy of half of the Tribe's games under
Erin Dickerson Davis have been decided by 10 points or less. W&M is 17-11 in such games and is 14-16 in games decided by 11+ under Davis.
• Locking it Down
The Tribe had one of its best defensive years in recent history last season, holding its opponents to just 38.2% shooting from the floor. That serves as the best mark for the Tribe since 2009-10.
• Competing on the Glass
The Tribe's 25.6 defensive rebounds per game last year rank as the most since 2008-09 and the fourth most in program history. W&M out-rebounded its opponents 14 times last year after only accomplishing the feat four times in Davis' first season.
• 60 is the Magic Number
The Tribe has its opponents under 60 points in 11 of its 15 wins last season, while opponents scored over 60 in 10 of the 14 W&M losses. The Tribe is 17-5 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 28-4 against them when scoring 70+ since 2020-21.
• Tough Early Tests
After kicking off the season against back-to-back MEAC champions Norfolk State, the Tribe plays Long Beach State and UC Irvine. LBSU enters 2024-25 picked fourth in the Big West, while Irvine was picked second in the same conference. Later in the month they will play A-10 favorites, Richmond, and ODU, which was selected third in the Sun Belt. Howard was picked tied for first in the MEAC with NSU and will come to Williamsburg Nov. 29.
• California Dreaming
When the Tribe heads to California on Nov. 9 and 11 it will be the first time they have played in California since 2004 in the Odwalla Classic. It will be the first time since 2001 W&M has played a true road game in California.
• 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.
