Game Notes

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The CNU women's basketball team returns to the court on Wednesday night, hosting Bridgewater College (1-1) in non-conference action as the in-state foe travels to the Freeman Center for the first time. CNU will look to win back-to-back games against ODAC competition after opening the season with a 79-63 victory over Bridgewater's conference-mate Washington & Lee. The mid-week tip is set for 7:00 pm, with live stats and live video available at CNUsports.com/live. 

The first annual "Fight for Hunger Game" is part of the CNU Athletics food drive as part of the Capital Athletic Conference Food Drive Challenge. Every contribution will be donated to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.

Christopher Newport, under the direction of head coach Bill Broderick, features a young, exciting group in 2015-16 that includes just three upperclassmen. In the season opener, five sophomores started for the fourth-year head coach, and all five managed to finish the game in double figures. The team was led by second-year forward Sam Porter, who posted a career-high 19 points in the victory. Sophomore point guard Makenzie Fancher helped facilitate the potent offense in the first game, dishing out five assists to go with ten points and four rebounds. 

As a team, CNU out-rebounded the Generals, 48-30, and grabbed 16 offensive boards in the game. CNU ranks 16th nationally in rebounding margin after the season-opening win and the Captains scored 17 second-chance points with their excellent performance on the offensive glass. Newcomers Jasmine Bonivel, with eight rebounds, and Jessica Daguilh, with seven, helped lead the way with 15 rebounds off the bench for the Captains. 

Wednesday's matchup is just the second in the all-time series since back-to-back NCAA setbacks for the Captains in 1997 and '98. The two teams reignited the rivalry last season when the Captains traveled to Bridgewater and suffered a 61-59 setback on the road, running the Eagles advantage in the all-time series to 13-6. 

This season, Bridgewater opened the year in the Eastern Mennonite Tip-Off Classic, facing Capital University in the opener and matching up against Penn State Altoona in the second game of the year. After falling to Capital, 67-49, the Eagles bounced back with an impressive offensive output against Penn State Altoona, winning 89-75. Against the Lions, Bridgewater scored 32 points in the first quarter, racing out to a big lead and holding on for the 14-point win.

The Eagles return four starters from last year's team, including All-Conference senior guard Cassidy Burkholder. Jessica Lam, a junior guard, is also back and leading the way early this season with 20.0 points per game. Oshene Kelly, a senior center, leads the squad with eight rebounds per contest, while also chipping in 14 points per game. 

Following Wednesday's game against Bridgewater, the Captains will return to action this weekend as they travel to N.C. Wesleyan for the Jean Edge Classic. CNU will take on former conference foes from the USA South Athletic Conference, Ferrum College and the host N.C. Wesleyan Bishops.