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ASHLAND, Va. -- A late flourish would not be enough for the third-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team in their season opener on Friday, as the Captains (0-1) suffered an 92-86 loss to Randolph-Macon College (1-0) in the R-MC Tip-Off Classic. The Captains closed to within four points in the final minutes, but a hot shooting night from beyond the arc would power the Yellow Jackets past CNU in the 2013-14 opener.

Randolph-Macon would knock down nine three-pointers in the game, hitting at a 52.9% clip from long range and building a double-digit second-half lead. The Yellow Jackets would add key free throws down the stretch to hold off a late surge by the Captains and hold on for victory.

Senior Tia Perry had a career-best scoring performance in the setback, scoring 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting, adding 10-of-13 from the free-throw line. Perry was one of three double-figure scorers for the Captains, as senior Nicole Mitchell, with 21, and Brandi Holland, with 17, joined the All-Region guard. 

Five Yellow Jackets finished in double figures, led by 22 from Taylor Huber, who knocked down three treys. She and reserve Hannah Livermon each knocked down three from beyond the arc to lead the potent long-rang attack, while three more R-MC players hit one shot each. 

Nine minutes into the game, the two teams were tied at 11 points, as the Captains were led by a strong start from Perry and Mitchell, combining for all 11 CNU points. Sophomore La'Shay Lucas would teeter the Captains into the lead, 15-14, on a layup with 10:18 remaining in the first half, but that would be CNU's final edge. A 10-2 spurt would give Randolph-Macon some room, led by Huber's six straight points, but the Captains responded to tie things up at 26 after an 11-2 run of their own.

Livermon, Sarah Parsons and Huber would combine for three treys over their next three possessions to pull away again, and finished out the opening stanza with a nine-point lead, 43-34. The Yellow Jackets hit 5-of-8 long-range attempts in the first half, hitting 62.5% as part of a 53.8% (14-26) shooting effort overall in the first 20 minutes. CNU also hit 46.4% (13-28), but was 0-3 from three-point land for the nine-point difference.

The lead would build to double figures just three minutes into the second half when Huber hit another jumper to pull ahead by 11, 47-36. After trading baskets for a couple minutes, the Yellow Jackets blasted ahead by 20, led by Huber's nine points in the roll. The 17-2 run gave the home team a big lead with just 11:39 remaining in the game. A three-pointer from Stephanie Staples three minutes later would make the lead a game-high 24 points, at 72-48, capping a 25-6 spurt that put the Yellow Jackets in control. 

Still, CNU would not go away quietly as they showcased the preseason muscle that earned them a No. 3 national ranking. The Captains, facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit with just 8:38 remaining, kicked into gear. Mitchell knocked down a three-pointer of her own to kickstart the Captains' near-comeback. She would combined with Perry and Holland to score
20 straight points for the Captains, pulling back within 11 at 79-68 with over five minutes to play.

Back in the game, CNU raised the defensive pressure, picking up a key block from Mitchell and a key steal by Chantal Thomas, but could never get closer than four points, at 90-86, on a pair of free-throws by Holland with 31 seconds remaining. The comeback would not be completed and R-MC held on for the season-opening win.

The Captains outscored the home team in the second half, 52-49, while knocking down 17 shots and 17 free-throws. The Yellow Jackets stayed hot, though, and hit 50% of their shots in the second half, including 4-of-9 from three-point land. In the game, R-MC hit 51.9% (27-52) from the floor, and added 29 shots from the charity stripe.

CNU point guard Andrea Hobbs finished with a game-high six assists, while grabbing four rebounds, four points, a block and a steal. CNU finished 25-for-32 from the free-throw line as a team, led by impressive performances from Holland (11-12) and Perry (10-13). On the glass, Christopher Newport dominated the Yellow Jackets, 32-18, including 17 offensive rebounds. Mitchell led the effort with eight rebounds. 

The Captains will have to shake off the loss quickly as they take on Shenandoah University on Saturday, on day two of the R-MC Tip-Off Classic. CNU will take on the Hornets at 6:30 pm.