Sports
Texas Dominates William & Mary in NCAA Tournament First Round
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns showcased their dominance in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Championship, defeating the William & Mary Tribe 82-25 on March 22, 2025, at Moody Center. With a season record of 31-3 and an unblemished home record of 15-0, Texas asserted its status as a powerhouse in women’s basketball.
The Longhorns displayed an impressive shooting performance, ending the game with a field goal percentage of 53.8%, while holding William & Mary to just 7-for-31 from the floor. They also converted all three of their three-point attempts, illustrating their efficiency on offense.
“We played great defense, and that fueled our offense,” said Texas head coach Vic Schaefer. “The entire team contributed tonight, and that’s what we need to continue to do going forward.”
William & Mary struggled to find their rhythm, shooting 0% from beyond the arc. Their only bright spot came from Bella Nascimento, who led the Tribe with 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Texas.
The second quarter saw Texas extend its lead significantly, with Bryanna Preston missing a layup early on but followed up by Taylor Jones grabbing a defensive rebound, reinforcing the team’s defensive efforts. Texas maintained an overwhelming 18-25 lead at the half, effectively outpacing William & Mary before the break.
As the game progressed, Texas’ robust rebounding game became evident, finishing the contest with 71 total rebounds compared to William & Mary’s 40. The Longhorns also converted 27 points off turnovers, while the Tribe could only manage 7.
“We really couldn’t find an answer for their size and athleticism,” said William & Mary head coach Ed Swanson. “It’s a great learning experience for our team, and we will take the positives from this moving forward.”
The Longhorns will advance to the next round of the tournament as they eye a deeper run in the championship. The next scheduled matches will continue this weekend, during the second round of the NCAA tournament.
