LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — Campbell held off William & Mary 45-43 in a low-scoring women’s basketball game Sunday at John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. The Fightin’ Camels used a 15-point second quarter to build a 22-17 halftime lead and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half. The Tribe closed the gap to two points in the final period but could not complete the comeback. Cassidy Geddes led all scorers with 18 points for William & Mary. Campbell was paced by Gianni Boone and Jasmine Felton, who each scored 10 points, with Boone adding nine rebounds. Campbell improved to 10-7. William & Mary fell to 8-7. An announced crowd of 873 attended the Colonial Athletic Association game.

LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by missed shots than makes, the Campbell women’s basketball team eked out a 45-43 victory over William & Mary in a Colonial Athletic Association contest Sunday at John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. The game, witnessed by 873 fans, saw both teams combine to shoot just 25.9% from the field. Campbell improved to 10-7 overall, while William & Mary fell to 8-7. The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute with the outcome hanging in the balance. Trailing 43-41, Campbell’s Ciara Alexander converted a layup with 1 minute, 18 seconds remaining to tie the game at 43. On the ensuing William & Mary possession, Alexander then blocked a jump shot attempt by the Tribe’s Cassidy Geddes, secured the defensive rebound, and immediately scored another layup to put the Fightin’ Camels ahead 45-43 with 1:01 left. William & Mary had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead in the closing moments but could not convert. A missed jump shot by Marley Long was followed by a critical turnover from Alexa Mikeska with 18 seconds left, giving Campbell possession. After a shot clock violation gave the Tribe one final chance with 4.4 seconds remaining, Geddes’ contested three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, sealing the narrow win for the home team. The contest was a grind from the opening tip. The first quarter ended in a 7-7 deadlock, and Campbell took a 22-17 lead into halftime after outscoring the Tribe 15-10 in the second period. William & Mary found a rhythm after the break, using a 14-10 third-quarter advantage to close the gap to 32-31 heading into the final frame. Geddes led all scorers with 18 points for William & Mary, though she needed 27 shots from the field to reach that total. Natalie Fox added 8 points and 8 rebounds. For Campbell, Gianni Boone and Jasmine Felton each scored 10 points, with Boone adding 9 rebounds. N’na Konate anchored the defense with 3 blocks. The statistical sheet underscored the offensive woes for both sides. William & Mary shot a frigid 16 for 63 from the field, including 1 for 18 from three-point range. Campbell was only marginally better at 16 for 53 overall and 3 for 13 from beyond the arc. The Fightin’ Camels compensated by forcing 14 William & Mary turnovers and blocking 6 shots, while also holding a slight 22-18 edge in points in the paint. William & Mary’s defense was equally disruptive, generating 9 steals and forcing 14 Campbell turnovers, which led to 9 points. The Tribe also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 17 rebounds to Campbell’s 15, but managed only 9 second-chance points. The victory allowed Campbell to defy the pregame metrics, which heavily favored the Fightin’ Camels, and secure a pivotal conference win in a tightly contested battle. William & Mary, which has now lost three of its last four games, will look to rebound when it hosts Hampton on Friday. Campbell travels to face Northeastern on the same night.

LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — A pair of teams looking to solidify their standing in the Colonial Athletic Association will meet Sunday when the Campbell Fightin’ Camels host the William & Mary Tribe in a women’s basketball matchup at the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. Campbell (9-7) enters with momentum after a 62-52 conference win over Elon on Friday. The Fightin’ Camels have won two straight, largely powered by the hot hand of guard Jasmine Nivar. She scored a game-high 24 points against Elon and is averaging 17.8 points over her last five contests. Her backcourt production will be central to Campbell’s attack against a William & Mary defense that has been inconsistent. William & Mary (8-6) aims to rebound from a narrow 62-60 home loss to College of Charleston that same night. The Tribe have dropped two of their last three after a five-game winning streak. Guard Alexa Mikeska, who posted 10 points and five assists in the loss, is a key facilitator. She has averaged 5.2 assists over her last six games and will be tasked with organizing the offense against Campbell’s pressure. The matchup features two teams with nearly identical records seeking a pivotal early conference victory. Campbell holds a slight edge playing at home, where they are 6-2 this season. William & Mary, however, has proven capable on the road with a 5-3 mark away from Williamsburg. The teams will complete a home-and-home series on Jan. 30 in Williamsburg. For now, this contest offers an opportunity for one to gain an early upper hand in the CAA standings. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon.