STEWART MANOR, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game defined more by defensive pressure and offensive struggle than by fluid scoring, William & Mary used a dominant first quarter and a standout performance from Cassidy Geddes to secure a 55-37 road victory over Hofstra on Monday afternoon at Mack Sports Complex.

The Tribe established control from the opening tip, holding the Pride to a single field goal over the game’s first seven minutes. William & Mary’s aggressive defense forced Hofstra into a series of early turnovers and contested shots, resulting in a 15-6 lead after the first quarter. That early cushion proved insurmountable for a Hofstra team that endured one of its poorest shooting nights of the season.

The contest never evolved into a shootout. Instead, it was a grinding, physical affair where points were consistently hard to come by. William & Mary’s defense was the catalyst, generating 21 Hofstra turnovers and converting them into 15 steals. The Pride’s offensive woes were stark, shooting a frigid 24.2% from the field. They managed only one successful 3-pointer in 14 attempts and scored a mere 0.527 points per possession.

While neither team shot efficiently, William & Mary found just enough offense, primarily through Geddes. The guard from Hickory, North Carolina, shouldered the scoring load, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 10-of-21 shooting. She added three steals in 34 minutes, consistently disrupting Hofstra’s offensive sets and creating transition opportunities.

The Tribe’s backcourt support was crucial. Alexa Mikeska of Carlsbad, California, contributed 10 points, five assists and two blocks, orchestrating the offense and providing defensive resistance. Guard Monet Dance added five points, five rebounds and three assists, while Kyah Smith chipped in six points and seven rebounds.

Hofstra, which fell to 3-16 overall, was led by Sandra Magolico’s 11 rebounds and six points. Ema Karim added seven points and six rebounds, and Chloe Sterling finished with six points. The Pride’s effort on the glass was a rare bright spot, as they collected 17 offensive rebounds, but they repeatedly failed to convert those second chances into points.

The most critical segment of the game was undoubtedly the third quarter, when Hofstra threatened to make a game of it. After trailing 24-16 at halftime, the Pride opened the second half with a quick 6-2 spurt, cutting the deficit to just four points following a layup by Sandra Magolico with 5:00 remaining in the period. The momentum briefly shifted, and the Tribe’s offense had grown stagnant.

William & Mary’s response to this threat defined the outcome. Following a timeout, the Tribe immediately stiffened defensively. Over the next three minutes, they unleashed a decisive 11-0 run, fueled entirely by their defense and Geddes’ scoring. The run began with a Geddes jumper, followed by a layup from the guard after a Hofstra turnover. Alexa Mikeska then converted a steal into a fast-break layup, and Geddes capped the surge with another jumper and a driving layup. The burst pushed the lead back to 15 points and extinguished Hofstra’s last genuine hope of a comeback. The Pride would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

William & Mary, which improved to 10-8, also controlled the interior defensively. Center Jana Sallman, from Cairo, Egypt, anchored the paint with nine rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes, while forward Natalie Fox added eight rebounds and four points.

The win gave William & Mary its second consecutive conference victory following a win over Northeastern. Hofstra’s loss was its fourth in a row.

William & Mary next hosts Campbell on Friday. Hofstra travels to face Stony Brook, also on Friday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, William & Mary entered the game with a 64.10 percent probability to win, a projection borne out by a performance that emphasized defensive tenacity over offensive artistry.