WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary women's basketball rallied in the fourth quarter but came up short in a 63–58 loss to Monmouth on Friday night at Kaplan Arena.
The Tribe falls to 13–11 overall and 6–7 in CAA play, while the Hawks improve to 17–8 and 10–4 in conference action.
William & Mary trimmed a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to as few as five in the closing seconds but could not complete the comeback.
Dynasti Pierce led the Tribe with 11 points off the bench, including a pair of key baskets during the fourth-quarter surge. Monet Dance added 10 points and five assists, while Cassidy Geddes and Natalie Fox each chipped in nine. Alexa Mikeska pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
As a team, William & Mary shot 41.4% (24-of-58) from the field and held a 37–32 advantage on the glass. The Tribe also scored 17 bench points and tallied 14 second-chance points.
First Quarter
Monmouth built an early lead behind interior scoring, but the Tribe responded with baskets from Fox and Dance to stay within striking distance. A late 3-pointer from Dance cut the deficit to 16–13 at the end of the opening period.
Second Quarter
William & Mary briefly took the lead midway through the second quarter after a fastbreak layup from Ari Mercado and a 3-pointer from Alexa Mikeska. The Hawks answered with timely scoring inside and carried a 29–26 advantage into halftime.
Third Quarter
Monmouth seized control in the third, shooting over 57% in the period and outscoring the Tribe 17–8 to extend its lead to double digits. The Hawks closed the frame on a strong run to take a 46–34 advantage into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Tribe mounted a determined comeback effort, outscoring Monmouth 24–17 in the fourth. Pierce, Fox and Long provided key baskets in transition, while Geddes converted at the free-throw line to cut the margin to single digits. William & Mary trimmed the deficit to five in the final seconds, but Monmouth converted late free throws to secure the win.
Up Next
William & Mary wraps up its three-game homestand on Sunday, Feb. 22, when it hosts Drexel at 1 p.m. inside Kaplan Arena.
