Game Notes
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport women's basketball team is back in action one more time before the holiday break as the Captains (7-1) will host William Peace University (5-4) on Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 pm.
The game is the 250th women's basketball game on the hardwood of the Freeman Center since the building opened in 2000-01. The home court advantage has been impressive over the last 18 seasons as CNU has built an overall winning record of 211 wins and 38 losses for a winning percentage of nearly 85%. The Captains have lost just three games at home over the last three seasons, going 29-3 in that stretch.
The all-time series between Christopher Newport and William Peace favors the Captains by a count of 21-2, including a streak of 15 straight wins heading into Sunday's contest. For fans who can not attend the matchup live, stats and a video webcast can be found online during the bout with links found at CNUsports.com.
The Captains come into the non-conference tilt having scored 100 points in two of the last three games while continuing to feature one of the most balanced high-powered offenses in the country. CNU ranks 10th nationally in scoring offense but manage to do so with just one players averaging double figures. That player is junior
Kiana Kirkland, pouring in 12.0 points per game after a career-high 21 points at N.C. Wesleyan earlier this month. Kirkland is also second on the team in steals with 21 thefts through the first eight games.
Seven different CNU players have led the team in scoring in the first eight games as contributions come from up and down the Captains' roster. In CNU's last game, rookie
Jessica Foster caught fire and scored a career-high 21 points to lead CNU to a 39-point victory at N.C. Wesleyan College. Foster ranks second on the team in scoring with 9.5 points per game while also dishing over two assists per contest. A trio of freshmen follow Kirkland with Foster,
Sondra Fan (8.9 ppg), and
Natalie Terwilliger (8.8 ppg) at the top of the scoring column. Senior
Jessica Daguilh is also averaging 8.5 points per game while leading the team in rebounding with 8.0 boards per contest.
The Pacers come into Sunday's tilt on a hot streak, winning three of their last four games. William Peace dropped their most recent contest at Greensboro after winning against Shaw, Methodist, and Mary Baldwin. Mikayla Ray is the top threat for the Pacers, averaging 16.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game so far this season. Ray is on the floor for 34.1 minutes per contest, while fellow leader Khadijah Daniels also averages over 34 minutes per game. Daniels is scoring 12.9 points per game while adding 3.1 assists.
After Sunday's contest, CNU will break for the holidays before returning to action for an in-season tournament at the University of Lynchburg on December 29-30. The classic format will pit the Captains against the host Hornets at 2:00 pm on the 29th followed by a 2:00 pm tip against nationally-ranked Emory & Henry on the 30th.
