NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport women's basketball team will look to avenge a loss to Southern Virginia University earlier in the year, tipping off a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Freeman Center Wednesday night. The Captains will host the women's matchup at 5:30 pm and the men's bout at 7:30 pm.   

First up, the CNU women's team has a chance to move into a tie for first-place in the league standings as they take on the Knights, who boast a 17-3 overall record and 8-2 mark in conference play. The Captains come in with a 16-5 overall mark and are one game back in CAC action, tied for second with Salisbury at 7-3.

On January 16, SVU picked up it's first ever win over CNU and the program's first win against a nationally-ranked opponent when they rallied for a 58-54 victory at home. Rookie Julia Ng led the way with her first career double-double for the Captains, who led the entire game until there was five and a half minutes remaining. Alexus Barnes and Katie Garrish combined for 13 of the Knights' final 16 points to stun the Captains on the road. 

CNU has won four of their five games since the mid-January matchup with SVU, including back-to-back double-digit wins last week at St. Mary's (Md.) and at home against Mary Washington. The well-balanced CNU offense is averaging over 76 points per game this season led by junior Kiana Kirkland (11.2 ppg), rookie Sondra Fan (10.8 ppg), and senior Jessica Daguilh (10.2 ppg). Rookie Jessica Foster is also averaging nearly 10 points per game while posting one of the finest rookie campaigns from beyond the arc in program history, burying 52 three-pointers so far this year. 

Southern Virginia has been led by five-time CAC Player of the Week Katie Garrish, who is averaging 18.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Barnes is also averaging double figures with 10.6 points per game. 

Following the women's battle for first place, the men's teams will take the floor at the Freeman Center with tip scheduled for 7:30 pm. With just two home games left on the regular season schedule, the Captains will look to improve on an impressive 11-0 start on the home floor. CNU is 18-3 overall, 8-2 in league play, taking on a Southern Virginia squad that is just 4-17 overall and 0-10 against CAC opponents. 

CNU has won seven of their last eight games with five different players leading the team in scoring in that stretch. Most recently, sophomore Jason Aigner pieced together back-to-back 20-point performances to earn CAC Player of the Week honors after leading CNU to wins at St. Mary's (Md.) and at home against Mary Washington. Aigner is the only Captain to start all 21 games this season and ranks second on the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game. He is amid one of the finest three-point shooting seasons in program history, knocking down 79 triples in 154 attempts for a 45.4% shooting percentage from deep. 

Senior Marcus Carter returned to the lineup after suffering an injury that forced him to miss two games. The team's leading scorer and rebounder, Carter is averaging 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while also leading the team in blocks (20) and ranking third in assists (37). 

Southern Virginia has lost 12 in a row including a 77-54 setback to the Captains on January 16. Junior Jamier Cross, the team's leading scorer, started the game against CNU but played just two minutes before exiting with an injury. Back in the lineup now, Cross is averaging 14.3 points per game. Rookie Trey Dill has also averaged double-figures with 10.5 points per game to go with 7.1 rebounds per contest. 

Both games will be available online in a live video webcast at CNUsports.com/watch -- the men's matchup will also be broadcast live on the CNU/Pepsi Radio Network on Xtra 99.1 FM. 

Following Wednesday night's doubleheader, CNU will host Frostburg State in the regular season home finale this Saturday, February 9 for Senior Day. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 and 4:00 pm.