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SCRANTON, Pa. -- Taking on the host and ninth-ranked Lady Royals of Scranton Friday night, the Christopher Newport women's basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Sectionals for the fourth straight season. The Captains (25-5) are set to tip off at approximately 7:30 pm in the second game of the Scranton sectional semifinals, following the #4 Tufts vs. #6 Messiah matchup at 5:00 pm.

For the third time in the last four seasons, the Captains will take on the host in the sectional semifinals, including a top-ten ranked Scranton squad for the second time. This season, the Lady Royals are 27-2 after winning the Landmark Conference Championship and picking up a pair of double-digit NCAA victories last weekend. Scranton is riding an eight-game winning streak with a 69-49 win over New England College in the first round and a 59-46 victory against Johns Hopkins in the second round. 

The Captains earned their trip to the Sweet 16 with an 82-78 victory at Gettysburg in the opening round before a 79-52 win over Mount Saint Mary in the second. CNU has won 11 straight games en route to the Capital Athletic Conference and 20th NCAA Tournament appearance. 

For fans attending the game on Friday, the public is being asked to park in the parking garage on 350 Monroe Avenue in Scranton, Pa. If unable to attend the game live, fans can watch the game live online through a video webcast provided by the University of Scranton department of athletics. Live stats will also be available and links can be found at the top of this page or on the women's basketball schedule at CNUsports.com. 

CNU is playing in the program's sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in the first seven years under head coach Bill Broderick, posting a 15-5 record in NCAA Tournament play in that stretch. This year's senior class is the first in the history of the program to reach the postseason in all four years, while advancing to the second weekend in each of the four opportunities. 

This season, the Captains have shattered the single season three-pointers made mark as a team, draining 242, more than 50 better than the previous mark of 191 set in 1997-98. Leading that performance has been rookie Jessica Foster, knocking down 79 triples in her first year, while six Captains have hit at least 19. That group includes leading scorer Kiana Kirkland, averaging 12.1 points per game to pace the high-powered CNU offense that ranks 13th nationally. CNU is scoring 77.3 points per game while the tormenting defense ranks second nationally in steals and fifth in turnovers forced. 

Rookie Sondra Fan leads the defensive effort with 62 steals while senior Zhara Tannor, despite missing nine games to injury, ranks second on the team with 61. Tannor is in elite company in program history, becoming just the fourth player with over 600 points, 300 assists, and 250 steals in her career. She joins CNU Athletics Hall of Famers Karen Barefoot, Leema Madden, and Chelsie Schweers in that group. 

Coming into Friday's contest, Scranton has been led by their defense, which has held opponents to under 50 points per game 19 times this season. That includes both NCAA Tournament victories last weekend which improved the Lady Royals to sixth in the nation in scoring defense, holding foes to an average of 48.2 points per game. On the offensive end, Scranton is led by junior guard Makenzie Mason, averaging 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. 

The winning team advances to play in the National Quarterfinals on Saturday, with tip set for 6:00 pm.