NORFOLK — Bella Nascimento scored a game-high 21 points in the season opener for William & Mary women’s basketball, but the Tribe would ultimately fall to Norfolk State 70-49 on Monday night in Norfolk.
Natalie Fox earned her first career bucket to tie things at 6-6 with 6:18 to go in the first quarter, before a triple from Nascimento gave the Tribe their first lead moments later.
Another bucket from the senior guard would give W&M their largest advantage they would hold all night, 11-6, at the 4:16 mark of the frame.
The Spartans would eventually regain the lead with a last second free throw, leading 16-15 after the first.
The Green and Gold shot 50%, 6-for-12, from the floor in the first quarter.
Norfolk State showed why they were back-to-back champs of the MEAC in the second quarter, embarking on a 10-0 run over the first three minutes to take a 26-15 lead.
Anahi-Lee Cauley would stop the bleeding for the Tribe with a layup moments later, as the teams traded buckets for the remainder of the half. NSU would hold a 37-26 advantage heading to the break.
The Spartans flexed their defensive muscle in the third, outscoring the Green and Gold 17-6 to expand their lead to 54-32. Nascimento accounted for two of the Tribe’s field goals in the frame, with Fox converting the other.
Selected as a Preseason All-CAA Second Teamer, Nascimento scored the first 10 points of the fourth for W&M, capping off the streak with a 3-pointer at the 4:21 mark to make it 62-42.
Monet Dance scored five down the stretch, while Marley Long cashed in on her first career basket to bring the final score to 70-49.
Cauley finished the evening with seven points to be the Tribe’s second leading scorer, as Nascimento shot 8-for-17 from the floor in her 21-point performance.
W&M finished the evening shooting 33.9% overall and 20% (4-20) from deep, while the Spartans shot 41.2% from the floor and 32% from behind the arc.
Both teams struggled from the free throw line with the Tribe posting a 5-for-12 mark and NSU 6-for-12.
Alexa Mikeska led W&M on the boards with six rebounds.
Up Next
The Tribe heads west to California to take on Long Beach State on Saturday. Tip is set for 5 p.m. eastern and will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a free audio broadcast on the Tribe Sports Network.
