NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team continued to roll on Sunday afternoon with a 77-61 home victory over the Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats. The Captains improved to 7-0 with the team's 24th consecutive win at home, led by 19 points from senior guard Sondra Fan. 

The Captains won their 24th straight game overall, dating back to December 2019, by pulling away in the second quarter. Four Captains finished in double figures as Fan was joined by Natalie Terwilliger with 11 and 10 each for Anaya Simmons and Jessica Foster. Foster, Fan and Terwilliger combined for seven triples in the game, including six in the first half as the Captains took a 48-35 lead at the break. 

Taking on the Diplomats (3-3) for the first time since the mid-90's, the Captains forced 26 turnovers in the Sunday afternoon win. After an eight-day layoff since their last game, CNU shook off some rust early and then utilized a pair of runs in the second quarter to extend the first-half lead. 

Franklin & Marshall matched the Captains through the first ten minutes before a traditional three-point play by rookie Hannah Orloff ended the first period with some momentum for the home team. The and-one bucket put Christopher Newport ahead, 22-20, and started a 10-2 blitz to start the second quarter. Jovia Winkey hit a pair of free-throws after a steal and Fan notched a three-pointer and a short jumper to put the Captains up, 29-22, with 6:12 showing in the first half. 

In the final three minutes of the opening half, Foster buried a pair of three-pointers including one to beat the buzzer at the end of the second quarter. That long-range bucket gave the Captains the largest lead of the half with a 13-point lead, 48-35. An 8-2 run to end the half carried over with the first seven points of the second half for a 15-2 roll overall to take a 20-point lead, 55-35. 

Sophomore point guard Gabbi San Deigo started the third quarter with a three from the wing before Simmons drove to the rack for two and San Diego added another lay-in off the glass. With the lead in hand, the Captains' defense held Franklin & Marshall in check by matching the Diplomats throughout the rest of the quarter. CNU would take a game-high 25-point lead late in the fourth quarter, 77-52, on a pair of free-throws by Katy Rader before a small 9-0 spurt for the Diplomats closed out the game for the final score.

With the loss, the Diplomats fall to 3-3 despite a double-double from Kenna Williams with 16 points and 17 rebounds. 

In the game, all but one of the active players finished in the scoring column for Christopher Newport. Senior forward Julia Ng led the team in rebounding with six rebounds while also grabbing four steals and swatting a pair of shots on the defensive end. Terwilliger also had six rebounds and a pair of blocks to go with her 11 points. Fan's impressive 19-point performance came on 7-of-9 shooting in just 18 minutes on the floor for the Captains. 

Christopher Newport, ranked No. 7 in the WBCA Top 25, will return to action on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. against William Peace University (2-3) at home. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available from the Freeman Center.