BUENA VISTA, Va. -- Despite overcoming an 11-point deficit in the first half and leading by as many as eight in the third quarter, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team suffered it's first loss of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night as the Captains (7-1) fell on the road to Southern Virginia University (6-2), 69-65. CNU was led by senior forward Hannah Kaloi with a double-double, recording 12 points and 13 rebounds in the setback. 

Christopher Newport dropped just its second ever game to Southern Virginia in 24 all-time matchups while playing in front of a near capacity crowd at Knight Arena. The Knights were led by Abigail Snyder with 18 points while Ruth Kempler added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the home team. 

After the opening tip, Snyder keyed an 11-0 run to start for Southern Virginia with two three-pointers to cap the burst. CNU got on the board when Camille Malagar drained a triple off the glass and kickstarted a methodical comeback bid in the first half. Both teams struggled to take care of the basketball in the first half, but the CNU defense excelled in drawing offensive fouls and forcing SVU turnovers. 

WIth the home team leading, 18-9, the Captains finished the final two minutes of the first quarter on a 7-0 run to claw back to within two. Alexia Lindsey finished against contact for a traditional three-point play before Elizabeth Creed added two makes at the stripe with a minute to go. On the final possession of the quarter, graduate point guard Gabbi San Diego buried a mid-range jumper to make it 18-16. 

Southern Virginia pulled back ahead by seven with the first five of the second quarter, but CNU settled in with another soft jumper by San Diego followed by a steal on the press. San Diego slipped a beautiful pass to Creed cutting to the basket and she finished for the Captains. One minute later, junior Hailey Kellogg added a fast-break layup and then Mia Wilson finally pushed the visitors ahead for the first time with a couple of free-throws to make it 24-23. 

The burst continued when rookie Madison McKenzie banked in a layup and added a free-throw on the next possession to finish out a 12-0 run as CNU took a five-point lead, 28-23. Southern Virginia finished with a flourish and tied the game at 32-all headed into the locker room. 

Coming out of the locker room, the Captains looked to right the ship by pulling ahead by eight points with 5:13 remaining in the period, 46-38. Sydney Sherman finished off a feed from Kellogg to give CNU their largest lead of the game. Again, though, the home team answered the call and took a 49-48 lead with 26 seconds left. Kaloi dropped in two free throws to temporarily give CNU the lead again, 50-49, but the fourth quarter would be back and forth the whole way. 

Neither team led by more than three throughout the fourth quarter until the final free throws with three seconds remaining made it 69-65 in favor of Southern Virginia. CNU led, 65-63, before the Knights closed with the last six points of the game. 

CNU outrebounded the Knights, 42-33, and grabbed 12 steals while forcing 24 turnovers. Southern Virginia knocked odwn seven three-pointers while CNU managed just a pair. 

Christopher Newport will look to bounce back on Monday, December 9 as they host North Carolina Wesleyan at the Freeman Center. Tip against the Battling Bishops is slated for 6:00 pm