NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport University junior Tra Benefield (Folkston, Ga.) was named to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week for his efforts over the holiday break, leading the Captains to a 3-0 record. CNU will host Ferrum College in conference action to open the New Year on Wednesday, January 2 at 7:30 pm. 

Benefield is the second CNU player to earn National Team of the Week honors this season, following Mike Cherry's selection after week two. Tra was named the MVP of the Holiday Inn Captains Shootout after scoring a season-high 30 points against Bridgewater College in the title game. Earlier, Benefield also had a double-double against Eastern Mennonite with 21 points and 12 rebounds. For the three-game stretch, the junior shot 56.8% from the field, averaging 21 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

He and the rest of the Captains (8-1) will take on the first-place Ferrum Panthers on Wednesday nigh at the Freeman Center. CNU has won three straight and has raced out to an 8-1 start, ranking 19th in the nation according to D3hoops.com. The next national rankings will be released on Wednesday. 

Benefield is averaging a team-high 19.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game to lead the Captains offense, while sophomores Cherry and Nik Biberaj are also integral to CNU's success. Cherry is pouring in 18.2 points per game and has been the team's leading scorer in five contests this year, while Biberaj 14.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and is also second on the team with 2.6 assists per game. 

Ferrum is off to a 5-5 start, including two wins in league play. The Panthers are getting double figures from Lamont King (15.2 ppg) and Jamal Pullen (12.8 ppg) and are averaging over 15 assists per game as a team. It will be the last time Ferrum will ever travel to the Freeman Center as a conference opponent in the USA South. In one of the longest standing rivalries for the Captains, CNU holds a 41-14 advantage, dating back to 1985-86. 

Live stats and live video will be available at CNUsports.com.