NEWPORT NEWS, Va -- On Sunday, both of Christopher Newport University's basketball teams will be playing for conference championships at 2:00 pm. The top-seeded CNU men will host #3 seeded Greensboro College in the Freeman Center and the #2 women's team travel to #1 Ferrum College looking for their fourth straight conference title.
Both games will tip at 2:00 pm; live stats and a live video webcast will be available for both, with links found at CNUsports.com.
Men's Basketball Championship
No. 1 CNU (22-4) vs. No. 3 Greensboro (18-9)
The Captains won the regular season championship outright, after posting a perfect 12-0 mark in USA South action including a season sweep of the Greensboro Pride. CNU earned the championship berth by blowing out Methodist University in the semifinals, 97-62. The Captains knocked down a school-record-tying 17-three pointers in the win, and five players were in double figures.
Greensboro earned its trip to the title game with a thrilling double overtime win over Averett, 96-91, in the opening round, and a simpler 94-82 victory over Shenandoah in the semifinals. The Pride shot 68% from the field in the semi's, setting a near-30 year old USA South Tournament record for field goal percentage as a team.
In two games this season, CNU won at Greensboro, 91-69, and then at home, 106-79 just two weeks ago. USA South Rookie of the Year
Mike Cherry scored a season-high 37 points in the latter, while sophomore
Tra Benefield added 27. Greensboro's T.J. Holman picked up First Team All-USA South honors earlier this week.
Women's Basketball Championship
No. 2 CNU (22-5) at No. 1 Ferrum (22-5)
Christopher Newport is playing in its sixth straight USA South Championship game and will be trying to win four straight for the first time in program history. Only once before has a team one four in a row when UNC Greensboro did it in the first four years of the tournament. In this postseason, CNU grinded out a win over Shenandoah, 59-44, and then blew past Greensboro in the semifinals, 58-41. The Captains led by as many as 25 in the win over the Pride.
Ferrum has won nine of its last ten games, including an 82-58 victory over CNU. The Panthers surged into the title game with an 84-60 win over Mary Baldwin and a 72-50 victory over Methodist. The top seed features a fast-paced offense led by First Team All-Conference players Tesla Akers and Kristen Keith.
The Captains underclassmen have led the way this season, especially the sophomore class.
Tia Perry,
Nicole Mitchell and
Andrea Hobbs have played integral roles in the Captains' success, while freshman
Camry Green hauled in USA South Rookie of the Year honors. Green had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Captains last game versus Ferrum.