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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Behind the sharp-shooting of Kelly Halverson and Nicole Mitchell's sixth double-double of the season, the 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team built a 21-point halftime lead and held off a late rally by Greensboro to capture their seventh straight win with a 65-53 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Freeman Center.

Halverson drained four shots from long-range, including three in the first half, to finish with 14 points for the Captains. Mitchell helped clean up on the inside, dropping 14 points to go along with 10 boards. Tia Perry also collected a team-high 15 points for CNU (20-2, 13-2 USA South), while Brandi Holland had 11 to round out the high-scorers against Greensboro (11-10, 7-8).

In the early going, Halverson and Perry teamed up for Christopher Newport's first nine points on the way to a nice 9-2 advantage.  While helping on the offensive end, Perry also led an intense defensive effort, picking up a quick steal before swatting a three-point attempt by Bianca Richburg just 30 seconds later.

Although the Pride sliced their deficit down to five, the Captains kept the pressure on. Camry Green posted her second block of the first half and Holland locked down and picked up her first steal of the game while helping the CNU defense hold Greensboro scoreless during a suffocating five-minute stretch in the middle of the first half.

After the Pride finally snapped their skid and knocked down a free throw, the CNU offense went back to work. Halverson drained a pair of shots from deep, while Perry added four points and two assists during an incredible 17-0 run late in the first half that gave the hosts an imposing 28-5 advantage.

Later, Holland chimed in with five points during the waning moments of the first half, and although Richburg converted an old-fashioned three-point play just before the clock expired, the Captains waltzed into the break with a commanding 39-18 lead.

The second half started promisingly for the Captains as Mitchell rained in the first four points before assisting on a jumper by Andrea Hobbs to secure a 27-point lead at 45-18. Unfortunately for CNU, the Pride fired back. Richburg dropped in a pair of threes, while Stacy Hicks knocked one down from beyond the arc during a 17-2 run that pulled Greensboro within 12 at 47-35.

With the momentum firmly planted on the Pride side, the visitors eventually whittled their deficit down to nine at 50-41 with just over nine minutes remaining in regulation. Needing a spark, Mitchell knocked down a jumper, Chantal Thomas finished off a pair of free throws, and Halverson hit a dagger from deep to give CNU a 57-43 lead.

As time wound down late in the second half, the Captains kept the Pride at arm's length. Perry converted three free throws, while Nicole Pandak dropped in a jumper to help close out regulation and secure the 65-53 victory.

In addition to Mitchell's 10 rebounds, Green and Kendra Stone each pulled down six, while Holland added three steals to anchor the team's defensive efforts. Perry also swiped a pair as the Captains finished with nine steals and helped force 17 Greensboro turnovers.

The Pride was led by Richburg, who finished with a game-high 24 points and 17 rebounds. Chevena Pickard also had nine points and six assists for Greensboro.

Christopher Newport will return to action tomorrow when the squad welcomes Methodist to town for a 2 p.m. battle at the Freeman Center.

---CNU---