NORFOLK, Va. –  Kayla Roberts recorded her fifth double-double of the season, but it was not enough to propel the Norfolk State women's basketball team (4-5) to a third consecutive victory. William and Mary (7-1) defeated the Spartans 65-52 Thursday night at Joseph Echols Hall.

Roberts tallied 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from behind the 3-point line. She grabbed 11 rebounds, while adding two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Despite both teams coming off an 11-day break for exams, both teams came out hot in the first quarter. Norfolk State shot 53.8 percent (7-of-15) from the floor, while the Tribe went 7-for-15 (46.7 percent). The Spartans led 19-17 after one quarter.

The Tribe switched from a man-to-man defense to start the second quarter, which gave NSU trouble.

William and Mary outscored Norfolk State 16-4 in the second quarter to open up a 10-point lead at the half, 33-23. The Tribe outscored the Spartans 9-0 in the final 3:27 of the quarter, with Marlena Tremba hitting a 3-pointer from the left wing at the first-half buzzer to cap the spurt. Norfolk State did not score in the final 5:09 of the quarter and shot just 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from the floor in the stanza.

The Tribe pulled away with the Spartans top two scorers on the bench in the second half.

Senior guard Jordan Strode was in foul trouble most of the game. She picked up her fourth with 7:18 left in the third quarter. Roberts picked up her third and fourth fouls in a span of 54 seconds. Her fourth came with 5:29 left in the third, with NSU trailing 38-29. Alexandra Masaquel made two free throws and the Tribe outscored the Spartans 17-4 with Strode and Roberts on the bench to take a 55-33 lead after three quarters.

Norfolk State applied a full-court press and forced seven of William and Mary's 15 turnovers in the fourth quarter. NSU held the Tribe to 10 points on 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from the field, including 0-for-3 from behind the 3-point line.

Strode recorded four of her eight points in the fourth quarter. This was only the second time in eight games she has not registered double-digit scoring. Roberts tallied nine of her game-high 15 points in the quarter.

Senior guard Dominique Harper joined Roberts in double-digit scoring, with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. She added two rebounds, two assists and one block.

"This is one of the two toughest games of the season," Norfolk State head coach Larry Vickers said. "The first game after exams and the last game before Christmas break are the hardest to maintain the energy. We just did not have it tonight."

William and Mary was led by Tremba, who notched 15 points. Masaquel and Victoria Reynolds added 10 points each.

Norfolk State outrebounded the Tribe 40-39, while forcing 15 turnovers. The Spartans turned the ball over 17 times.

William and Mary shot 41.0 percent from the field (25-of-61), including 48.9 percent from behind the arc, which are the highest marks allowed by NSU all season.

The Spartans' bench was outscored 28-16.

"We had a change in our rotation tonight," Vickers said. "I am going to have to trust my bench more and use them more so I can keep my wings fresh."

Norfolk State will be back in action Sunday, when it will host Lincoln at 4 p.m.