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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Facing off for the first time since Christopher Newport captured the 2019 Capital Athletic Conference Championship against the Knights, the Captains will take on Southern Virginia University at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday night in the Freeman Center. The battle pits two of the top teams in the conference against each other as Christopher Newport comes in with a 12-4, 1-0 record hosting the SVU Knights with a 13-2, 1-0 mark heading into the matchup.
Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all the action at CNUsports.com. Links can be found on the women's basketball schedule page online.
The Captains will enter Wednesday night's game on a four-game winning streak after dispatching of York (Pa.) in the conference opener on Friday afternoon, 64-50. It was just the fourth home game of the season for Christopher Newport, who improved to 4-0 this season and tied for the third longest home winning streak in program history with a 15-game roll dating back to the 2018-19 season. Southern Virginia has won six straight games to improve to 13-2 including a 67-55 victory at home against Salisbury to open league action last Saturday.
The all-time series favors Christopher Newport in a big way as the Captains are 17-1 against the Knights in the series. The lone loss, however, came last season when Southern Virginia held serve at home for a 58-54 win. The Captains then won at home, 69-47, to put themselves back in the driver's seat for the regular season title, and would go on to defeat the Knights in the CAC Championship Game at home, 83-67.
SVU features the USBWA National Player of the Week from last week after junior Katie Garrish put together some garish numbers on the floor against Mary Baldwin, Averett, and Elizabethtown. The All-American forward has been sensational again in her third season, leading the nation in double-doubles, with 11, and ranking fourth nationally in blocked shots and 11th in rebounds. She is the leading scorer in the conference, averaging 16.9 points per game, and the leading rebounder, averaging 11.3 boards per game.
In addition to Garrish, the Knights also feature the league's second-leading scorer in junior forward Savanna Christensen, pouring in 16.4 points per game this year. Christensen is knocking down over 53% of her shots while also hauling in 8.0 rebounds per game. Taking over the program in 2019-20 is first-year head coach Lynette Schroeder, a 2008 graduate and four-time USCAA All-American for the Knights.
The Captains will counter with a young, but potent lineup that has frustrated teams defensively all season long. Christopher Newport currently leads the nation in total steals and are forcing 30.63 turnovers per game this season, ranking third nationally. Seven different Captains have already registered at least 20 steals this season led by sophomore
Sondra Fan's 34 after a career-high six against York. Fan is also the team's second-leading scorer with 11.6 points per game while shooting 40% from the field.
Rebounding has also been key to the Captains' success this season as Christopher Newport ranks 15th nationally in rebounds per game. It has been mostly a balanced effort on the glass with sophomores
Natalie Terwilliger (6.3) and
Julia Ng (5.6) helping to lead the way. Rookie
Anaya Simmons (6.4) is the team's leading rebounder while also pouring in 10.6 points per game in her first season. Terwilliger is currently the team's high scorer with 11.7 points per game.
The matchup will tip off at 6:00 p.m. with chairback admission set at $8 and general admission seating sold at $5. Christopher Newport students with a valid ID will be admitted free.
Following the mid-week conference matchup, the Captains will hit the road to take on Mary Washington in another pivotal conference bout on Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 p.m.
