Bob Flynn
Latest - March Madness
As 2026 March Madness begins, I can’t help but look back at the 2025 edition. One of the most compelling story lines last year was the College of William & Mary making the women’s tournament for the first time in program history. And they did it by winning the Coastal Athletic Association tournament as the No.9 seed, beating the No.8, No.1, No. 4 and No. 3 seeds along the way. Covering that tournament was one of the highlights of my professional career.
This week, we will look at each game with expanded stories that are being published for the first time.
Game 1
No. 9 William & Mary 76, No. 8 Hofstra 65
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A key philosophy for William & Mary women’s basketball coach Erin Dickerson Davis and her staff is “play next.”
They write it on the board in the locker room, reminding players not to dwell on the past but learn from it, especially the mistakes and losses.
“That might be next possession. That might mean get to the next quarter. It might mean get to the next half. We had to have a ‘play next’ mentality,” Davis said after her team’s 76-65 victory over Hofstra on Thursday in the second round of the Coastal Athletic Association tournament at CareFirst Arena.
That approach was particularly handy against the Pride, who just 11 days prior beat the Tribe by 20 points on senior day at Kaplan Arena, holding the hosts to 34 points in their lowest output of the season.
“We learned from that. We watched it. We tossed it,” said Davis, who is in her third season with the Tribe.
Game 2
No. 9 William & Mary 74, No. 1 N.C. A&T 66
The two smallest players on William & Mary’s roster gave the Tribe one of its biggest wins in program history.
Sophomore guards Monet Dance, 5-foot-3, and Cassidy Geddes, 5-7, had career highs of 27 points and 26, respectively, as the ninth-seeded Tribe upset No.1 North Carolina A&T 74-66 in overtime Friday in the Coastal Athletic Association tournament quarterfinals.
The roommates made 21 of 30 field goals, including a combined 9-13 on 3-pointers, led by Dance tying the tournament record with seven 3s (on nine attempts). They also combined for the Tribe’s 10 overtime points (5 each), all of which came before the Aggies scored their only two of the extra session with 25 seconds left and the game long decided.
Game 3
No. 9 William & Mary 76, No. 4 Drexel 54
William & Mary women’s basketball coach Erin Dickerson Davis said her team is at its best when everyone gets involved. They proved her point Saturday in the semifinals of the Coastal Athletic Association tournament.
Guards Bella Nascimento and Monet Dance led the way with 20 and 18 points, respectively, but they had plenty of help as the No.9 Tribe upset No.4 Drexel 76-54 at CareFirst Arena, home of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. They were the lowest seed to reach the tournament semifinals and are the lowest to reach the final.
“Wow. My team has really come together,” Davis said.
Game 4
No. 9 William & Mary 66, No. 3 Campbell 63
Tears of joy, huge smiles and heartfelt hugs were in abundance Sunday as the William & Mary women’s basketball team celebrated its stunning run to the CAA championship.
One thing that was absent from coaches, players and staff was the look of disbelief.
“It all started with belief. Everybody had belief,” senior guard Bella Nascimento, who had 33 points and 11 rebounds, both career highs, in the ninth-seeded Tribe’s 66-63 victory over No.3 Campbell in the title game.
The day before, after the Tribe’s semifinal win over No.4 Drexel, Nascimento also mentioned the team’s attitude.
