NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport's women's basketball squad snapped Greensboro's 21-game winning streak with a 66-58 win over the Pride in the USA South Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
It's the 12th time in the history of the CNU women's basketball program that they have advanced to the NCAA Tournament and the first since the 2006-2007season. For CNU, it's the eighth conference tournament title in the history of the program.
CNU came out in the first half and scored 12 of the game's first 16 points to lead 12-4 with 13:18 left in the first. The Pride cut the lead down to five, 15-10, with 9:49 left but the Captains countered with an 18-7 run to lead 32-17 with 2:51 remaining. Christopher Newport led by as many as 17 in the opening half, the final time coming at halftime, 36-19.
In the second half, the Captains came out strong, quickly getting the lead up to 20, 39-19, just three minutes into the start of the second half. Christopher Newport led by as many as 23, 54-31, with 7:38, before Greensboro mounted a come-back. GC cut the lead to eight with 3:07 to go, capping a 14-2 run.
The Pride was able to get as close as six, but that came with six seconds remaining in the game.
Greensboro finished 20-of-77 (26%) from the field, 5-of-19 (26%) from behind the arc and 13-of-18 (72%) from the free throw line. Dione Eccles led the way with 13 points. Danielle Duncan added 10 and eight boards off the bench while Kim Enoch finished with nine and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Christopher Newport finished 25-of-60 (42%) from the floor, 3-of-10 (30%) from long range and 13-of-13 from the stripe. Chelsie Schweers led all scorers with 20 points. Jerlisa Bowser had 14 off the bench and Jessica Moore contributed 10 and seven rebounds.
Ferrum's Caprice Laws, Greensboro's Enoch and Duncan and the Captains Moore and Bowser were both named All-Tournament. Schweers was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Greensboro falls to 26-2 on the year while the Captains improve to 22-6. CNU will find out Monday morning who and where they play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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