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ARLINGTON, Va. -- Playing in front of a crowd of nearly 900 at the Verizon Sports Arena in Arlington, the mid-season battle for first place in the Capital Athletic Conference fell in favor of Marymount University on Saturday afternoon, as the Saints held off the nationally-ranked Captains in a back-and-forth battle, 77-67.

Both teams are now 11-2 on the season overall, but the Saints took a one-game lead over CNU in the league standings with a 6-0 start to the year in CAC action. The Captains are now 5-1 against conference opponents this year. 

After Marymount burst out to a 16-point lead mid-way through the second quarter, the Captains unleashed a 16-0 run to even things up at 32-32. From there, the game was within reach the rest of the game for both teams with six lead changes and four ties in the contest. 

The Saints managed to get to the free-throw line twice as many times as Christopher Newport in the game, and finished the game 32-of-42 from the charity stripe to hold off the Captains comeback. Marymount took more attempts from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, with 24, than CNU managed total in the game after finishing 15-of-21 with the clock stopped.

The Captains were in foul trouble early, when starting forwards Micah Maloney and Jessica Daguilh each picked up two and then Maloney a third foul in the first quarter. CNU was playing without the services of senior preseason All-American Sam Porter, who was ruled out with a hand injury prior to the game. With the depth up front jeopardized, the Captains turned to sophomore Kiana Kirkland and senior Bailey Dufrene for the bulk of the big second quarter run.

After falling behind, 32-16, Dufrene scored five straight points followed by a jumper by Jasmine Bonivel. A triple from Makeda Wright cut the lead to six and then Kirkland scored four of her eight second quarter points to pull CNU back within a pair. The 16-0 run was finalized by a pair of free-throws from Zhara Tannor, knotting the score at 32-all with just over three minutes left in the first half. 

The Saints led, 36-34, at halftime but Dufrene opened the second half with a three-pointer to put the Captains in front for the first time in the game. The senior guard finished the game as the team leader in scoring with 13 points. CNU took the lead three times in the third quarter, but could never extend the advantage higher than one as the home team answered each threat.

Wright caught fire during a spurt in the second half and finished with a season-high 12 points for the Captains while shooting 5-for-7 from the field including a 2-for-2 effort from long range. CNU got a game-high eight rebounds from Daguilh and Bonivel, and Bonivel was one of four other CNU players with seven points in the game. 

Four of Marymount's five starters finished in double figures led by 18 from Regan Lohr and Tyffani McQueen. Lohr was only 2-for-8 from the field against the stiff CNU defense, but knocked down 13-of-14 attempts from the free-throw line. McQueen added seven steals and five rebounds to her 18-point effort. 

Marymount came into the game receiving votes in both the WBCA and D3hoops.com Top 25 national polls. CNU was ranked No. 3 by the WBCA and No. 6 by D3hoops.com. 

The Captains will return to action at Southern Virginia on Wednesday, January 10 at 5:30 pm. Live video will be available at CNUsports.com/live.