Complete Game NotesALLENTOWN, Pa. -- After falling in the Capital Athletic Conference semifinals last Thursday night, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team wasn't sure if the season was over. With nothing to do but wait for four days, the Captains anxiously hoped that their resume was strong enough for an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. On Monday afternoon, the NCAA breathed new life into the Captains, awarding that sought after berth and second chance in the postseason. The first round begins Friday night, as the Captains (22-4) will take on St. Joseph's College of Maine (23-5) at 5:00 pm at Muhlenberg College.
Christopher Newport was selected to play a neutral site game in the first round against the Monks, who won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship, with the winner scheduled to advance to Saturday's second round against either host Muhlenberg or St. John Fisher. Live stats and video of all three games is available, with links found at the women's basketball schedule on CNUsports.com. With a renewed sense of excitement, the Captains will head into the single-elimination tournament with sights set on another deep run into the postseason tournament. It is the third time in four seasons under head coach
Bill Broderick that CNU has entered the NCAA Tournament, with finishes in the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 the two previous trips. This season, though, as it has been all year, the team is young and will be experiencing the tournament for the first time.
Sophomores
Sam Porter,
Devon Byrd and
Makenzie Fancher earned All-Conference honors for the Captains, and have started all 26 games for CNU this season. Fancher is among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio and leads the team in assists while averaging 7.5 points per game. The other two are a dominant starting front court for the Captains, averaging around 10 points and 6.5 rebounds per game each.
The Captains have been successful this season, however, primarily on their team defense. CNU ranks third in the nation in steals and among the top 20 in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 52.3 points per game.
They will face a St. Joseph's team that also features a strong defense, holding opponents to 57.3 points per game this season, and a team that likes to share the basketball. The Monks rank 18th in the nation in assists, led by GNAC Rookie of the Year Kelsi McNamara's 114. McNamara is the team's second-leading scorer as well, with 14.0 points per game, while knocking odnw 40% of her shots from long range. Also helping lead the way has been senior All-Conference center Morgan Cahill, with 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
This is the first matchup in program history between Christopher Newport and St. Joseph's (Maine).
