WASHINGTON — In a nail-biting finish that stunned many, Bella Nascimento poured in an impressive 33 points, including a decisive jumper with just 11 seconds on the clock, enabling ninth-seeded William & Mary to topple No. 3-seed Campbell 66-63 and clinch the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament title on Sunday. This victory propels William & Mary (15-18) into the NCAA Tournament for the very first time, marking them as the first team with a record below .500 to do so since Incarnate Word’s effort in 2022.
Initially, William & Mary faced a significant challenge, conceding the first 14 points of the matchup and trailing 20-9 by the end of the opening quarter. However, the Tribe outplayed Campbell (21-12) in each of the subsequent three quarters. A crucial moment in their comeback journey occurred when Cassidy Geddes sank a layup followed by a crucial 3-pointer, giving the Tribe their first lead at 56-55 with 6:45 remaining.
The Tribe effectively sealed their remarkable victory when Nascimento delivered an 18-foot jumper from the free-throw circle. In the final moments, Campbell’s Olivia Tucker’s attempt at a 3-pointer fell short with seven seconds on the clock. Despite multiple fouls available, the Lady Camels were unable to halt the game or send the Tribe to the line before time expired.
Nascimento’s performance was phenomenal, achieving her career-high score on 14-for-26 shooting. The 5-foot-8 guard also matched the game-high with 11 rebounds. Supporting her efforts, Rebekah Frisby-Smith contributed 12 points, while Geddes added a vital 10 from the bench.
Campbell’s Courtney Dahlquist managed 19 points, with Gianni Boone contributing 15 and Gemma Nunez adding 13. Together, they were responsible for the game’s opening 14 points and crafted a 30-point surge in the first half, securing Campbell a 34-26 lead at halftime. Dahlquist claimed seven points in the early moments of the third quarter, pushing the Lady Camels to extend their lead to 43-30. Nevertheless, Nascimento ignited a scoring spree with eight points in a span of 1:15, and Frisby-Smith’s 3-pointer concluded the third quarter with Campbell narrowly ahead at 53-49, setting the stage for the climactic final period.
