NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Playing at home for just the second time this season, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team (7-1) will play host to North Carolina Wesleyan University (4-3) on Monday evening at 6:00 pm. 

The Captains will look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season, 69-65, at Southern Virginia last week. The Battling Bishops are coming off a 71-66 win at Pfeiffer on Saturday afternoon. 

CNU has won ten in a row against N.C. Wesleyan and owns a 69-17 all-time series record versus the Battling Bishops. Longtime conference foes as members of the USA South Athletic Conference, the Captains and Bishops have matched up at least once in every season but one since 1978-79. The last time the two teams matched up was on December 12, 2023 in Rocky Mount, N.C. where CNU earned a 90-69 victory. 

After opening up the season with seven straight wins, the top-ten ranked Captains suffered the team's first loss on the road last Wednesday despite a double-double from senior forward Hannah Kaloi. Kaloi poured in 12 points and hauled in 13 rebounds in the game while adding one block and one steal. Elizabeth Creed and Alexia Lindsey each added nine points in the loss while Creed snagged seven caroms. 

For the season, fifth-year senior Camille Malagar is leading the offense with 10.4 points per game while knocking down 46.4 percent of her attempts from the field. Creed leads a dominant contingent off the bench, adding 8.1 points per game this season. The reserves rank second in Division III in bench scoring, averaging 48.9 points scored per game. 

Defensively, the Captains are among the nation's best in turnovers forced per game with 32.89 per game. That mark ranks fourth nationally while CNU also ranks fifth in turnovers margin (+13.56). Lindsey leads the team with 19 steals while junior Hailey Kellogg has added 17. 

N.C. Wesleyan gets to the line a lot, averaging over 20 free-throws per game this season and is also a top rebounding team with 45.0 per game. Nadia Simmons leads the team with 16.6 points per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. She is also grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game while leading the team in assists and steals with 22 and 12, respectively. 

Live stats and live video will be available at CNUsports.com. 

Following the Monday night matchup, Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday, December 18 with the Captains Clash Tournament. Shenandoah and Asbury will face off at 5:00 p.m. and CNU will take on Wilmington College at 7:00 p.m.