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FERRUM, Va. – The Christopher Newport University women's basketball team took to the road for the USA South championship game at top-seeded Ferrum College and suffered an 82-56 loss.  The loss drops CNU to 22-6 on the season and will wait to see if they get an invitation to the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.

The Captains ran into a buzzsaw as the Panthers jumped out of the gate to an 11-4 lead as the tournament's MVP, Ferrum junior, Tesla Akers, hit two quick three-pointers and freshman Jacole Hairston, added five points of her own in the first three minutes of the game.

CNU trailed the entire game and entered the half down 13 after Akers added two baskets in the last 30 seconds of the half.  While Akers paced the Panthers during the first half, sophomore guard, Tia Perry kept the Captains close with 10 first half points.  Perry added five first half steals on her way to seven for the game.

Sophomore, Nicole Mitchell, finished with 15 points, 10 in the second half, to go with 7 rebounds.  Mitchell and Perry were both honored as members of the all-Tournament team after each finished with 15 points in the defeat.

Akers paced all scorers with 23 points on 8-14 shooting.  She was joined in double figures by Shea Smith (16),  Kristen Keith (12) and Kelsey Frazier (10)

With the win, Ferrum clinches the USA South's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.  CNU, winners of the last three conference tournament, will await word as to whether or not they will receive an at-large berth in the bracket.  The brackets will be announced Monday afternoon on NCAA.com.