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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The first-place and 18th-ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls (19-1, 13-0) opened the game on a scoring tear, knocking down 17 of their first 22 shots to take a big lead early, going on to defeat the Christopher Newport Captains by a final score of 89-72 on Wednesday evening. The game-opening surge would give the road team a lead they would never relinquish as the Captains fall to 12-8 overall on the season with an 8-5 record in league play. 

CNU was looking to play upset against the Sea Gulls, who remain undefeated in league action with just five games remaining on the schedule. Senior Camry Green paired 16 rebounds with a season-high 22 points for the Captains, but it would not be enough to erase the lead built over the first 12 minutes of the game. 

Salisbury knocked down seemingly every shot in the first portion of the contest, hitting over 77% from the field with just 8:01 remaining in the first half. In the early going, Green was able to keep CNU even by scoring the first six points of the game for the Captains. She answered each go-ahead basket by Salisbury with a bucket down low. With the game tied at 6, though, the Sea Gulls would go on a 15-3 run over a span of just under four minutes to take a 21-9 lead. 

The Sea Gulls were balanced, looking to six different players for seven baskets in the run that would ultimately stave off the Captains for the remainder of the game. CNU would close to within nine once more in the half, but Salisbury finished out the opening stanza still shooting strong to extend its lead to 16 at the break, 54-38. 

At halftime, seniors Sarah Seipp and Anna Hackett led the Sea Gulls with 11 and 10 points, respectively, but six different players had six or more points. The team shot 54.1% (20-37) from the field, including knocking down five three-pointers. The Captains posted a respectable half, getting a near double-double from Green and a team-high 12 points from Sam Porter, but 19 points off turnovers for the Sea Gulls led to a big hole at halftime. 

CNU was outscored in the second half by just one point, as Green continued her stellar individual performance. She finished the night with the first 20-point performance of the season for a CNU player, while adding 16 rebounds and one steal. Her rebounding effort moved her into the top five all-time at CNU in career rebounds, tying Dolmesha Stallings with 942. She also surpassed Amber Hallman on the all-time scoring chart, moving up to 19th with 1,121 career points. 

Porter finished with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, while fellow freshman Bailey Dufrene added 11 points, seven boards, two steals, a block and an assist. As a team, the Captains shot 35.8% (24-67) from the field and the reserves got back on track with 39 points off the bench. 

Salisbury got double figures from four starters, led by 22 points from Seipp. Julia McLaughlin had three blocks and three steals to go with her 10 points and seven rebounds, while Hackett added six assists to go with her 17 points. Rounding out the double-figure scoring was Melanie Mocniak, with 13 points, while Kathy Albornoz had a near double-double off the bench with eight points and nine rebounds. 

Turnovers were crucial for the Captains, as Salisbury scored 27 points off of 19 CNU giveaways, while CNU won the rebounding battle, 49-33. The Sea Gulls hit 50.8% (32-63) from the field in the contest. 

CNU will look to rebound on Saturday, February 7 as they host Wesley College (10-10, 6-7) in another pivotal CAC regular season game. Tip is set for 2:00 pm as part of a doubleheader with the men's team.