NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport's women's basketball squad dropped its first USA South contest, 83-81, to Ferrum Sunday afternoon at the Freeman Center.

It's also the first home loss for the Captains.

The Captains got out to a hot start, leading by nine, 19-10, with 13:46 left in the opening half. The Panthers went on a run of 15-5 to take a one point lead, 25-24, with 9:08 remaining. The Captains re-took the lead minutes later and FC see-sawed back in front with 6:31 left in the half. Ferrum would extend its lead to as many eight, 41-33, at the half.

In the second, Ferrum quickly extended its lead to on its first possession of the half.  CNU began to chip the lead away and finally tying the score at 56 with 12:32 left in the game. The Panthers responded by scoring six straight points and eventually took an eight-point lead with 5:58 to go.

Chelsie Schweers scored CNU's next of the next nine points, cutting the lead to two before Jessica Moore tied it one possession later with 2:19 remaining.

The Panthers scored a bucket on their next possession and Schweers nailed another bucket with 1:40 to go to tie the score at 81. Brittney Bullock's bucket with 1:18 left proved to be the game-winner.  Schweers had a chance to tie the score with less than a minute left, but her jumper rimmed out. After a missed Ferrum shot, the Captains got the rebound after a time out with 14 seconds left. Alysa Kerr was wide open for a three-point shot which rimmed out with less than a second remaining.

Ferrum shot 32-of-68 (47%) from the field, 3-of-14 (21%) from behind the arc and 16-of-22 (73%) from the free throw line. Tonya Wright led the Panthers with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Bullock finished with 26 and nine boards.

Christopher Newport shot 29-of-72 (40%) from the floor, 7-of-15 (47%) from behind the arc and 16-of-18 (89%) from the free throw line. Schweers led CNU with a game-high 32 points. Moore added 18, Kimmy Hopkins had 12 points, 8 rebounds and five assists and Kerr had 10 off the bench.

Ferrum improves to 11-4 overall and 7-1 in USA South play. CNU falls to 11-3 on the year and 6-1 in conference action. The loss snaps CNU's seven game winning streak.

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