Complete Game Notes

FERRUM, Va. -- In the second round of the 2014 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, the 20th-ranked Christopher Newport Captains (23-5) will face a familiar foe, taking on 16th-ranked Ferrum College (27-2) at 7:00 pm. Links to live stats and a live video stream will be available at CNUsports.com. 

The Captains advanced past the first round for the fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, with a 78-63 win over Eastern Mennonite, while their former conference rivals from the USA South Athletic Conference edged out Capital University, 73-70 for their first ever NCAA Tournament win. It was the Panthers third straight appearance, and fourth overall.

Christopher Newport owns a dominant 50-19 edge in the all-time series, but the Panthers have won three of the last four matchups. The last time the two teams faced off was in the 2013 USA South Athletic Conference Championship game, where the Captains pulled away for a 70-55 victory. 

This season, the Panthers have enjoyed one of the finest seasons in program history under head coach Bryan Harvey. Ferrum ranks as the fourth-best team in the nation in terms of field goal percentage (47.2) and seventh in field goal percentage defense (31.8). The starting five are all veteran players featured in CNU's head-to-head matchups over the last several years, including four seniors and one junior. 

Senior Kylene Culler is coming off one of the most impressive performances of her career, grabbing an NCAA Tournament record 24 rebounds against Capital in the first round. She added 11 points and six assists to fill the stat sheet for the Panthers, and was one of four Ferrum players in double figures. Katy Kipps led all scorers with 18 points and Jacole Hairston added 17. Kayla  Goins poured in 13 off the bench. 

This season, Hairston has been the scoring leader, pouring in 13.0 points per game. Kipps and senior Shea Smith are also averaging double figures for the potent offense, that is averaging 77.7 points per game this season. In Swartz Gym, the Panthers are 14-1 this season, including the first round win over Capital. 

The Captains also feature a veteran starting group, led by forward Nicole Mitchell and point guard Andrea Hobbs. Mitchell has started 87 straight games for the Captains and leads Division III in career games played. After a 20-point performance in the first round, the Falls Church, Va. native is averaging 16.0 points per game. Hobbs has been the floor general all season long, starting all 28 games at point guard for the Captains. She ranks 18th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio and has dished more than 100 assists this season, with 109 total. It's the first 100+ assist season in five years and the second most assists in the last ten years. 

Junior Camry Green posted her eighth double-double of the season in the first round win over Eastern Mennonite, and is averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. Senior Tia Perry is also averaging double figures, with 15.8 points per game, and made her first appearance back in the CNU lineup on Friday after suffering an injury that held her out of the last five contests. 

Ticket prices for Saturday's second round game are $6 for general admission and $3 for students. Tickets go on sale at 5:30 pm. 

Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ferrum/wbball/
Video Stream: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ferrum.portal