NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Utilizing a 20-5 run from the end of the first quarter through halftime, the Christopher Newport women's basketball team opened up a big lead on Shenandoah University (6-3) on Thursday afternoon and pulled away for a 71-55 victory in the Captains Clash Tournament Championship. A highlight-reel teardrop pass from Camille Malagar to Emma O'Connor on a fast-break was the exclamation point to a run of 14 straight points as the Captains built a 15-point lead. With the win, CNU heads into the holiday break with a 10-1 overall record. 

CNU scored 16 of 17 points in a span of 7:53 with the majority coming in the second stanza and the tough finish from O'Connor was just one of several key plays. That bucket was set up by a open court steal from Sydney Sherman who quickly got the ball out to Malagar on the run. Looking ahead, the fifth-year senior arced a perfectly placed pass from halfcourt into the hands of the sprinting freshman forward, splitting a pair of defenders. O'Connor finished on the run and gave CNU a 31-16 lead with 4:40 left on the clock in the first half. 

Shenandoah trimmed the lead to 11 once in the second half, opening the third quarter on a modest 5-0 run, but the Captains rebounded with another impressive showing in the third quarter to pull away. CNU led by as many as 27, at 66-39, with 5:51 left in the game when sophomore Jessica Dornak buried a pair of free-throws. 

Balance and impressive ball movement was the name of the game against the Hornets as Christopher Newport had only one player reach double figures in the game. Malagar recorded a team-high 10 points while five more CNU players registered eight-point showings. Hannah Orloff, Elizabeth Creed, Hailey Kellogg, McKenna Snively, and O'Connor each helped anchor a balanced scoring performance. 

In the third quarter, CNU showed off its ability move the basketball on three straight possessions with multiple passes leading to open looks. The first came on a short jumper from Kellogg when the Captains rapidly spun the ball around the perimeter before Alexia Lindsey found the junior guard in the corner. She made a quick dribble move to her right and pulled up for two. Then, on the next possession, it was Caitlin Crump left wide open for a three-pointer from the wing after CNU made sure every player touched the ball at least once in the play. Creed had the final pass, drawing a second defender and kicking back out to Crump for the triple. Finally, the sophomore duo switched spots on the next play with Crump setting up Creed after a flourish of quick passes by the CNU offense. 

With the 8-0 burst ending the third quarter, the Captains took a 23-point lead into the final ten minutes, 60-37. The second half also featured stellar defensive play as Sherman picked up a pair of rejections and Creed added one. CNU had five steals in the early stages of the third quarter including two straight by Kellogg -- one of which set up a three-pointer in transition for Snively as the junior guard knocked down two long-range shots for the third straight game. 

CNU forced 29 turnovers and snagged 17 steals. In the paint, Sherman had three of CNU's eight blocked shots while Orloff added a pair, Creed had one, and two freshman added one each with Katerina Dakos and O'Connor each swatting one in the game. 

Shenandoah was led by Terese Greene with 20 points and Gabby Krystofiak with 11. CNU held the Shenandoah bench to just three points in the game while the Captains reserves contributed 37. 

Hannah Orloff was named the Tournament MVP while Hailey Kellogg also earned All-Tournament honors. They were joined by Terese Greene (Shenandoah), Gabby Krystofiak (Shenandoah), Gabby Russell (Wilmington (OH)), and Haleigh Releford (Asbury). Orloff averaged 9.5 pts, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in the tournament while also playing a season-high 20 minutes in the championship against the Hornets. She went 13-for-15 from the free-throw line and chipped in a pair of assists and one steal. Kellogg took over as the starting point guard following an injury to Gabbi San Diego and played a team-high 24 minutes in both games. She finished the tournament with 8 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists. 

CNU will take a ten-day break before returning to action on December 29 at the Steel Club Classic hosted by Moravian University. The Captains will face William Paterson University in the Noon game on Sunday, Dec. 29 with the losing team playing in the consolation game on Monday, Dec. 30 at 11:00 am and the winning team facing off in the championship game at 1:00 pm.