NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- This weekend, the Christopher Newport women's basketball team will make its third appearance in the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA Tournament in the last four years. CNU (28-2) is headed to Greencastle, Indiana to play in the Sectional Round of the 2013 postseason event, facing undefeated Montclair State (29-0) in a neutral site contest on Friday, March 8 at 5:00 pm (EST). The other game will feature top-ranked host DePauw University facing off against Washington University (Mo.) at 7:00 pm, with the winners of both contests advancing to play in the Elite Eight on Saturday at 5:00 pm.

The winner of the DePauw Sectional will advance to the 2013 NCAA Final Four, being held March 15-16 in Holland, Michigan on the campus of Hope College. 

Ticket Information
Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens, students and children, and will go on sale at 3:30 pm on Friday and 5:30 pm on Saturday. Cash sales only.

All games will be played in the Neal Fieldhouse which is located in the Lilly Physical Education and Recreation Center. Entry may be gained through the North doors and parking is available in the Peeler Center Lot.

Tournament Website
For more information, check out the Tournament Central page at DePauw University's athletic website: 
http://www.depauw.edu/athletics/womens/basketball/2013ncaasectional/

Live Stats and Live Video
Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all three games in Indiana. Check the Tournament Central page for links are click below:

Live Stats: http://www.depauw.edu/ath/live/women/xlive.htm
Live Video (Neutral): http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/depauw.portal
Live Video (CNU): http://www.CNUsports.com/LIVE

About CNU
The Captains are directed by first-year head coach Bill Broderick, who has enjoyed one of the finest first-years in NCAA Division III history. The CNU coach has guided the Captains to a 28-2 overall mark and a Sweet 16 berth for just the fourth time in program history (1992, 2010, 2011). CNU reached the Final Four in 2011, which included players from this year's junior and senior class. 

This year, the Captains tight team defense has been the leader for Coach Broderick. Heading into last weekend's opening round, the CNU defense ranked 11th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (30.7) and 19th in scoring defense (49.7). From long range, opponents are hitting at just 22.9%, a mark that ranks eighth in the nation. Most impressively, CNU has held their opponent to 55 points or less 24 times in 30 games this year, including 11 straight games heading into Friday.

Offensively, four Captains are averaging 9.6 ppg or more: Tia Perry (13.8), Camry Green (11.1), Nicole Mitchell (10.6) and Kelly Halverson (9.6). Green, a second-team All-Conference selection, is averaging a double-double on the year as she adds 10.1 rebounds per game. 

Solo Senior
The lone senior on the squad this season, Kelly Halverson, has been to the Sweet 16 three times in her career. As a freshman, Halverson helped the Captains start the year 30-0 before falling in the Sectional Round to the University of Rochester. Then, as a sophomore, Halverson and the rest of the CNU squad made history as the first basketball team in school history to reach the Final Four. As the only fourth-year player on this year's team, Halverson has helped balance out the offense with her outside shot. She has caught fire late in the year, and is averaging 16.3 points per game over the last seven contests. She has knocked down at least three three-pointers in five of those seven games and dropped a career-high seven twice. 

Facing the Red Hawks
Montclair State (29-0), is making its first ever appearance in the Sectional Round. MSU has posted a program-best 29 wins and are one of just two remaining unbeaten teams in Division III. The Red Hawks were ranked No. 5 in the nation in the final D3hoops.com poll and defeated host Lebanon Valley by 20 points in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. This year's NCAA Tournament appearance is the first since 1995 for the Red Hawks, and fourth all-time. 

MSU also features a stingy defense, that is the nation's leader in steals per game (18.1 spg). Three separate players rank among the nation's Top 60 in thefts per contest, including ninth-ranked Nicosia Henry, who takes away nearly four per game. Head coach Karin Harvey pairs one of the nation's elite offenses, ranking 18th at 74.0 ppg, with one of the country's top defenses, allowing just 45.6 points per game. That formula has led to the country's top team in terms of scoring margin, outscoring their opponents by over 28 points per contest.

Five different players are averaging double figures and four of those five are hauling in over six rebounds per game. Melissa Tobie leads the way, with 14.6 points per game, paired with 6.0 rebounds. 

The Other Side
DePauw University and Washington University (Mo.) each have a storied NCAA history, including two national championships in the last five years. DePauw won the national title in 2007 and the Bears of WashU won in 2011. The Bears have posted an NCAA-record 62 wins under head coach Nancy Fahey, as Washington University is making its 15th NCAA Sectional appearance. DePauw is making its 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 14th overall and the Tigers are the No. 1 team in the nation according to D3hoops.com