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NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The Christopher Newport University men's and women's basketball teams have had a long week of studying and final exams. Sunday, the Captains return to the court for a non-conference doubleheader at Virginia Wesleyan College. The men's game will begin at 2:00 p.m. followed by the women's game at 4:00 p.m.at the Batten Center in Virginia Beach.

The CNU men have won six straight games to open the season, and are ranked 13th in the nation. John Krikorian's squad is coming off a 68-58 win at Marymount last Saturday that saw sophomore Aaron McFarland lead the way for the second straight game with 17 points. McFarland had posted a career-high 27 vs. Salisbury in CNU's previous triumph. The Captains are 3-0 atop the Capital Athletic Conference, and the successful start marks the first time the Captains have won their first six games since the 2001-2002 season, a year the Captains went on to finish 23-5.

Christopher Newport is presently second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 56.3 points per game. The Captains are also ranked ninth in the country in field goal percentage defense (36.1%), and ninth in blocked shots per game (6.2). CNU has been led so far by sophomores McFarland (15.2 points per game) and Marcus Carter (14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game). Junior Tim Daly is averaging 10.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Senior Hunter Wetherell has blocked a team-high 11 shots.

Virginia Wesleyan is ranked 12th in the nation heading into Sunday's clash. The Marlins have won their last three, and are now 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Dave Macedo's squad was picked second in the country in the pre-season, but has already suffered early-season losses at Wesley and Salisbury.

The matchup will be the 83rd all-time, with CNU holding a 46-36 advantage in the all-time series. The teams battled last year at the Freeman Center in a game that went to overtime before the Marlins escaped with an 84-83 victory. CNU won two years ago at the Batten Center, 83-80.

On the women's side, the Captains of Christopher Newport look to snap a two-game losing skid as they take on the Marlins in non-conference play. CNU is 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the CAC. Bill Broderick's squad lost at Marymount, 49-44, last Saturday in its last action. Christopher Newport continued its stifling defense with 21 steals and three blocks, while forcing a season-high 30 Marymount turnovers.

Sophomore Makenzie Fancher led the offense against the Saints with 13 points on 4-9 shooting while fellow sophomore Bailey Dufrene finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three steals. Yet another sophomore, Sam Porter, continued to impress defensively with another six-steal effort, paired with six points and three blocks in the losing effort. For the season, Porter tops the Captains averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Balance has been a key for the CNU women as six different Captains are scoring over seven points per game through the first seven tilts.  

Virginia Wesleyan's women's squad is off to a 2-5 start and the Marlins are 0-2 in the ODAC. VWC has lost three straight games heading into the non-conference battle.

The meeting will be the 62nd all-time, with the Captains holding a 41-20 advantage. CNU has won five straight over the Marlins in women's play.

The action from the Batten Center in Virginia Beach will be available live Sunday afternoon at CNUsports.com/live.

The men's game will also be broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning at 1:40 p.m.





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