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ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Christopher Newport basketball teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Marymount University for a conference doubleheader. The Captains will tip at 2:00 and 4:00 pm, as the CNU women look to bounce back after their first loss while the 21st-ranked CNU men hope to add to their season-opening five-game winning streak. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for both games, with links found on the schedules at CNUsports.com. The men's game will also be broadcast live on the CNU/Pepsi Radio Network, Xtra 99.1 FM. 

Under the direction of head coach John Krikorian, the nationally-ranked Captains are off to one of the best starts in program history. The CNU men's team has rolled off five straight to start the year, marking just the ninth time in the 49-year history of the program. Coming off a 71-60 win over 17th-ranked Salisbury on Wednesday night, CNU is now 5-0 overall with a 2-0 mark in conference play. 

The team defense has been suffocating through the first five games, as CNU leads the nation in opponents scoring average (56.0) and features one of the top defensive units in the nation. CNU ranks 31st nationally in steals per game and 55th in blocks per game, but most impressively as a team, opponents are shooting a mere 36.7% from the field, good for 11th in all of NCAA Division III. 

Offensively, a pair of sophomores are doing the most damage for the talented Captains' squad, as Marcus Carter and Aaron McFarland combine for nearly 30 points per game. McFarland is coming off a career-best 27 points against the Sea Gulls, and Carter leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with 15.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. The two have also combined to be a lethal threat from the free-throw line, knocking down 34-of-48 attempts for an 83% shooting percentage. 

The Captains will face a Marymount squad that is 2-4 to start the year, coming off a double overtime loss at Southern Virginia in their conference opener. The Saints were picked fifth in the CAC Preseason Coaches Poll, playing under head coach Chris Rogers for his fifth season. So far this season, Marymount has gotten double figure scoring from four players, including a team-high 12.7 points per game from senior Danny Ferry. D'Ondre Stockman leads the team in minutes and is a dangerous threat from outside, averaging 12.3 points per game. 

On the women's side, the Captains will have to have a short memory after their first loss of the season as they turn their attention to one of the top teams in the conference. Marymount was picked directly behind the Captains in the CAC Preseason Coaches Poll and is off to a strong 4-2 start this season. The Saints feature one of the top players in the conference in senior Kievanna Lacey, averaging 18.0 points per game so far this season. Lacey has the ability to get to the free-throw line while also ranking in the top 50 nationally in field goal percentage at 57.1%. 

After starting the year 5-0, CNU was receiving votes in this week's D3hoops.com and USA Today/WBCA Top 25. A conference setback at home to Salisbury served as an early season jolt to the young Captains' squad, who are now 5-1 overall and 1-1 in league play. CNU was leading against the Sea Gulls until the final two minutes of action, when solid free-throw shooting down the stretch from Salisbury held off the Captains' bid for a sixth straight win. 

Like the men, it has been defense leading the way for the Captains so far in 2015. Despite the loss, CNU still ranks seventh nationally in scoring margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 26.7 points per game, and tenth in scoring defense, giving up just 47.3 points per game so far this season. At the forefront of the tough defensive pressure are sophomores Devon Byrd and Sam Porter, with 20+ steals already this season. In a balanced offense, Porter leads the way with 11.5 points per game, while fellow sophomore Anitra Thomas comes off the bench for 10.8 points per game. 

Tip for the Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 pm at the Verizon Sports Arena on the Marymount campus, with the men's game tentatively scheduled for 4:00 pm. Following the CAC tilt, both CNU teams will take an eight-day break before returning to action on Sunday, December 13 on the road at Virginia Wesleyan for a non-conference doubleheader. That twin bill will begin at 2:00 pm as well, with the men's teams doing battle first.