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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A special night is prepared for Valentine's Day in Newport News on Wednesday as the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team is set to host Southern Virginia University (18-5) in the annual Play4Kay Pink Game. The two former conference foes will tip off at 6:00 p.m. in the regular season finale which will also serve as Senior Night for a pair of Captains.

Both teams will be wearing pink warmups and the Captains will wear their pink uniforms in recognition of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Captains help fight cancer by uplifting survivors and raising funds to donate to the charity alongside over a thousand participating schools. Legendary Coach Kay Yow created the vision for the "pink game" as a way to bring communities together and honor cancer warriors in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women. 

Additionally, the Captains will be playing on C.J. Woollum Court in the Freeman Center for the 300th time since the doors opened in 2000 as the milestone game will be the first since recording a program record 50th straight home win two weeks ago. CNU has accumulated an impressive 261-38 record in home games since opening the Freeman Center for a winning percentage of 87.3 percent. 

The matchup against Southern Virginia will be the final home regular season game in the careers of two senior Captains as Alivia Giles and Katy Rader will be honored in a pre-game ceremony for Senior Night. Over the last three years with the two veterans, CNU has suffered just three losses with multiple conference championships and unprecedented postseason success. 

CNU and SVU are meeting for the 23rd time with the Captains boasting a dominant 21-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Captains are 12-0 all-time at home against the Knights and have won six in a row. Fifth-year head coach Lynette Schroeder has guided the Knights to first place in the USA South Athletic Conference with an 18-5 overall record and 16-1 mark in conference play. 

Christopher Newport moved up in the national polls this week and is now ranked No. 4 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and tied for No. 5 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll. The Captains are 22-1 overall with one of the nation's top offenses averaging 77.8 points per game. CNU ranks seventh in the country in turnovers forced per game while grabbing 13.8 steals per game, ranking 12th best in Division III. 

Three CNU players are averaging double figures led by Conference Player of the Week Hannah Kaloi. The junior forward is averaging 12.3 points per game while adding 4.6 rebounds per game. Kaloi has twice been named the C2C Player of the Week, as have Giles (11.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Camille Malagar (10.1 ppg, .492 FG%). 

Southern Virginia boasts an impressive defense that ranks third nationally in field-goal percentage against (.300) and seventh in rebounding margin (+12.5). The Knights are led by Abigail Snyder with 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. 

Following the penultimate game of the 2023-24 regular season, the Captains will close things out at Warren Wilson on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 p.m.