WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—The slipper still fits for the William & Mary basketball team, having won five games in the last week to earn the school's first CAA title in basketball and first ever NCAA Tournament win. The next step in the Tribe's journey will be against top-seeded Texas on their home floor Saturday evening in Austin.
The game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN2 with a 9:45 p.m. ET tip. The winner will play the winner of Illinois/Creighton in Monday's second round.
Stay tuned to @TribeAthletics and @WMTribeWBB on all social media as well as
TribeAthletics.com/MarchOnTribe regarding information for a pregame gathering in Austin and watch parties in Williamsburg.
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 9:20 p.m. ET featuring a pregame interview with
Erin Dickerson Davis. Fans can listen at
tribeathletics.com/listenlive.
Stay up to date with all the information and happenings for the CAA Championship by visiting
TribeAthletics.com/MarchOnTribe. Catch up with the Tribe through social media. 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) and Instagram (WMTribeWBB).
TRIBE NOTES
• The Matchup
The storybook run has continued for William & Mary with the Tribe earning a win in the school's first ever NCAA Tournament game on Thursday against High Point. The victory gives W&M a date with top-seeded Texas on Saturday. Tip is set for 9:45 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
• The Opponent
One of the nation's top teams from start to finish this regular season, Texas (31-3) begins their NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Birmingham 3 Region. The Longhorns are led by SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker and rank second in the nation in scoring margin, beating opponents by an average of 23 points.
• Last Time Out
Playing in the program's first NCAA Tournament in school history, William & Mary made more history by grabbing a win over High Point, 69-63, in the First Four on Thursday. The Tribe fell behind 8-2 early before getting in the act from deep. W&M posted 6-for-9 from deep in the first half to take a six-point lead to the break. The Tribe then fought off High Point runs in the second half to earn a gritty and historic win.
Bella Nascimento led the way with 24 points, while freshman
Natalie Fox posted a career-best 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• Finally Dancing
Prior to Sunday's championship game, William & Mary was the lone original DI member eligible for the first postseason in 1938 to have never made an NCAA Tournament in men's or women's basketball. The Tribe will aim for what would naturally be the school's first ever NCAA Tournament win against High Point in the First Four.
• Flipping the Script
Entering the CAA Tournament losers of seven of the last eight regular season games, W&M completely flipped the script in a historic run in Washington D.C. After a victory over Hofstra in the second round, the Tribe picked up its first win over a No. 1 seed in the postseason, beating N.C. A&T in overtime. The Tribe rolled No. 4 Drexel by 22 in the semis before beating No. 3 Campbell in the final. W&M trailed by 12 and 13 in the middle of the third quarter to both A&T and Campbell respectively before storming back. W&M was the first No. 9 seed to ever make the CAA final let alone win it.
•More History
As if the Tribe hasn't made enough history over the last week, W&M's win over High Point in Thursday's First Four made them the first team to ever win NCAA Tournament game with an under .500 record on the women's side. The Tribe is the first team to enter the tournament under .500 since 2022.
•Shooting the Rock
W&M finished the regular season shooting 37.8% from the floor and 25.5% from deep. Over the five-game postseason run the Tribe has no doubt found their touch, shooting 45.5% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range.
•Big Bucket Bella
Bella Nascimento was simply sensational in the CAA title game, posting a career-high 33 points and a career-high 11 boards for her second career double-double. Nascimento willed the Tribe down the stretch, scoring 20 of her points in the second half. When the dust had settled, the junior had scored half of W&M's points and accounted for 14 of the team's 27 field goals. The 33 points are the most ever in the postseason by a W&M player.
• But Wait, There's More
While a historic effort,
Bella Nascimento's performance in the CAA title game didn't come out of the blue. Nascimento has had the keys to the Tribe offense all year long. She currently is six made field goals away from the program record for most in a single season. The senior has already set the program record of field goal attempts in a season and led the CAA in scoring during league play at 17.8 ppg. Nascimento also sits just 12 points away from the W&M record for most points in a single-season.
•Super Sophomores
Sophomores
Monet Dance and
Cassidy Geddes were also key cornerstones in the CAA Championship run, each earning CAA All-Tournament Team honors. The pair of guards combined for 53 points in the quarterfinal win over N.C. A&T with Dance blowing her previous career-high out of the water with 27 while Geddes scored 26. Dance also scored 12 and 18 against Hofstra and Drexel while Geddes was in double figures in the final. The pair kept it going in Thursday's First Four, combining for 5-of-9 from deep and 27 points with Dance scoring 15 and Geddes 12. Dance is averaging 15.2 ppg this postseason and Geddes 12.0.
• Mo Shines Through
Monet Dance's breakout performance the last five games can be first credited to her prowess from deep. Dance came to D.C. with 18 makes from behind the arc on the year before catching fire over the last week. The Roswell, Ga. native has hit 16-of-21 treys in the postseason and now is shooting 43.6% from three on the year. Also of note, Dance has now started more postseason games in her career then regular season games.
• Stepping Up at the Right Time
Rebekah Frisby-Smith picked quite the time to score in double figures for the first time this season. The Australian graduate student scored a season-high 12 points in the CAA final off four made triples. Nine of those points came in the third quarter to keep W&M in the ballgame. Her last game in double figures came on 3/3/24 scoring 10 at Charleston.
• Not Afraid to Switch it Up
Erin Dickerson Davis has shown no issue switching up her starting lineup throughout the season, using 14 different starting-five combos through 34 matchups. She has never used the same starting five more than eight times this year, with that being the opening night lineup. W&M has used three different lineups this postseason, including debuting new lineups in the CAA final and First Four matchup Thursday.
• Comeback Kids
Not only did W&M make history this past weekend but they did so in electrifying fashion. The Tribe trailed top-seed N.C. A&T by 12 points in the middle of the third before coming back to force overtime to pick up the program's first win again a No. 1 seed in the quarters. Campbell was the next victim of a W&M comeback in the championship, getting out to a 14-0 lead and again leading by 13 in the third before succumbing to a Tribe offensive bombardment that included a 61.5% shooting effort in the fourth. The Tribe only had won once while trailing at the half before finding second half magic in D.C.
• Everybody Assists
10 different players have led W&M in assists in a single game this season with eight of those players doing so multiple times.
• Road Warriors
Travel is nothing new to this W&M squad as the Tribe only has played 11 of their 33 games this season at home, including just two in the non-conference. Not only has the Green and Gold been on the road often, but has also squared up with tough opponents when doing so. W&M traveled to three teams who are also in this year's NCAA Tournament in 4-seeded Maryland, 8-seed Richmond and 13-seed Norfolk State. The Tribe spent a 35-day stretch (11/29-1/3) without a home game, the 22nd longest stretch in DI. Also of note, W&M is a perfect 7-0 in neutral site games.
• 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.
• 60 is the Magic Number
60 points is a key number for W&M. The Tribe is 24-8 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 37-5 against them when scoring 70+ since 2020-21. Offensively, the Tribe is 44-16 when scoring over 60 and 4-29 when held below 60 under Davis.
