NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After playing eight straight games away from home throughout the month of December, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team will once again be cheered on by the home crowd on Friday afternoon as the Captains (14-1) will host Cheyney University (4-6) at 3:00 p.m. in the Freeman Center.

CNU has won two in a row and will be putting a program record 44-game home winning streak on the line against the Wolves. Cheyney University, formerly known as Cheyney State, has a storied history that includes reaching the NCAA Division I Final Four under the direction of legendary head coach C. Vivian Stringer during the 1982 season. The Wolves would go on to reach the Final Four again in 1984 and put together decades of success at the Division II level. 

Christopher Newport has also put together a storied history in that span, reaching the NCAA Division III Final Four three times since 2011 including a national runner-up finish in 2023. The Captains have amassed over 900 victories in 50 seasons of women's basketball at Christopher Newport including 269 under head coach Bill Broderick, the winningest coach in program history. 

The Captains are 14-1 overall this season coming off an eight-game road trip that saw CNU win seven games away from home. At the Freeman Center this season, Christopher Newport is 4-0 to extend one of the nation's longest active home winning streaks to 44 straight games. CNU has not dropped a game at home since December 1, 2018 against nationally-ranked Messiah College. 

For fans unable to attend the game in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available free of charge on the CNUsports.com website. Links to both can be found through the women's basketball schedule online. 

CNU captured the team's first win of the 2024 calendar year on Wednesday when they went on the road to defeat Rowan, 82-57. In that game, sophomore Nicole Timko matched junior Hannah Kaloi for the season-high in single game scoring for the Captainst his year with 21 points. Timko buried five three-pointers in the game and helped CNU distance themselves from the Profs in the second half. So far this season, the second-year star is leading the Captains from beyond the arc by making 40 percent from the perimiter. 

At the top of the scoring column for CNU is Kaloi, alongside Alivia Giles and Camille Malagar. The trio are each averaging over 10 points per game this season led by Kaloi's 10.8. 

Cheyney will counter with Cianna Roberts averaging 11.5 points per game for the Wolves. On the glass, Maranda Carey is hauling in a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game to pair with 6.1 points per contest while also ranking second on the team in steals. 

Following the Friday afternoon matchup against Cheyney, the Captains will have another home bout next Wednesday, January 10 against Marymount University. That game will tip at 6:00 p.m.