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William & Mary women's basketball made history on Thursday night, securing the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win with a hard-fought 69-63 victory over High Point in the First Four round. Led by a dominant 24-point performance from senior Bella Nascimento, the Tribe used strong rebounding and clutch free throws to advance to the first round, where they will face No. 1 seed Texas.
With the win, William & Mary (16-18) became the first sub-.500 team in NCAA women's tournament history to win a game. The victory adds another milestone to an already historic season for the Tribe, who secured their tournament bid by winning the Coastal Athletic Association championship.
How to watch Texas vs. William & Mary
- Date: Saturday, March 23, 2024
- Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Moody Center, Austin, Texas
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: ESPN+ and the ESPN app
- Radio broadcast: Tribe Sports Network with Jack Angelucci on the call
William & Mary's path to victory
Facing an early deficit, William & Mary stayed resilient. A six-point High Point run put the Panthers up 54-51 with just over five minutes remaining, but the Tribe responded with six straight points to retake the lead. Freshman Natalie Fox was instrumental, posting a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double while making key plays down the stretch.
The game remained close until William & Mary's frontcourt took control. Junior Kayla Rolph, who grabbed 10 rebounds (five offensive), contributed crucial second-chance points. The Tribe out-rebounded High Point 45-31, including a 15-9 edge in offensive boards, which led to a 12-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Betting odds for Texas vs. William & Mary
- Spread: Texas (-22.5)
- Over/under: 138.5
- Moneyline: Texas (-4000), William & Mary (+1500)
Key players to watch
- Bella Nascimento (W&M): 24 points, clutch performance in First Four win.
- Monet Dance (W&M): 15 points, perfect from three-point range.
- Natalie Fox (W&M): 12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks.
- Aaliyah Collins (High Point): 18 points, key scorer for the Panthers.
What's next for William & Mary?
With this historic win, William & Mary now faces a major challenge against No. 1 seed Texas. The game will take place on Saturday night at the Moody Center, with national coverage on ESPN2. Tribe Athletics is also hosting a watch party at Kaplan Arena, with doors opening at 9:15 p.m.