NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team overcame a tough shooting night to pull away from the Quakers of Wilmington College (3-6) in the 2024 Captains Clash Tournament on Wednesday evening, 57-44. The Captains improved to 9-1 after grinding out a win in the matchup that saw only two players reach double figures as fifth-year senior Camille Malagar led the way with 13 points and senior forward Hannah Orloff fell just one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. 

In the first game of the day, Shenandoah University outlasted Asbury (Ky.) by a final score of 75-70. On day two of the Captains Clash, the consolation game will pit Asbury against Wilmington at 1:00 pm and the championship matchup will feature CNU against the Hornets of Shenandoah at 3:00 pm. 

A pivotal surge in the third quarter would prove to be the difference in the game as Christopher Newport buried three triples in the final stages of the period and took a nine-point lead heading into the final ten minutes, 45-36. CNU led by just two, 34-32, with 4:38 left in the third quarter when Caitlin Crump found McKenna Snively for a jumper beyond the arc. That shot triggered a 11-4 finish to the period that included a highlight-reel dish from Crump to Orloff for a layup in the paint and two more troples as Malagar and Elizabeth Creed set each other up for the final two CNU buckets of the stanza. 

In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Malagar dashed into the paint before finding Creed on the run for another bucket to take a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, 47-36. The teams traded baskets and the defenses held for a three-minute stretch before a key steal from Malagar led to a three-point play on the break that gave CNU a 52-42 lead. On the very next possession, Alexia Lindse shuffled a pass into rookie Emma O'Connor and the rookie made a nice move to finish in the paint to finish. 

With only 4:30 left in the game, the Captains held onto the double-digit lead for the remainder and finished out the win, 57-44. 

In the first half, CNU took a 14-7 lead in the first quarter despite and managed to take a two-point lead into the locker room despite Wilmington rebounding to win the second quarter, 14-9. The Captains shot just 22.9 percent (8-35) in the first half including a 2-for-19 effort from beyond the arc. The Quakers hung with CNU with five made three-pointers and went into the break with the Captains earning a 23-21 advantage. 

CNU outscored Wilmington, 22-15, in the third quarter while being led by Malagar with eight of her game-high 13 points in the quarter. 

Rebounding was key for Christopher Newport as the Captains hauled in 18 offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points. Orloff led the effort on the glass with nine rebounds while Hannah Kaloi also collected seven caroms for CNU. Orloff added a pair of blocked shots and was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line in a hard-nosed effort down low for the CNU front court. O'Connor also added seven points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot in 13 minutes off the bench for CNU. 

The CNU defense forced 34 turnovers for the seventh time in ten games this season. The Captains held the Quakers to just 32.1 percent shooting (17-53). 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm against Shenandoah.