Game Notes  ||  Live Stats  ||  Live Video

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team will open the 24th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history this Friday, March 1 at 8:15 p.m. when they welcome in the University of Mount Saint Vincent (22-6) for opening round action from the Freeman Center. The Captains (26-1) are ranked No. 4 in the country and are riding a 14-game winning streak heading into the matchup, which will be the first ever against the Dolphins. 

Christopher Newport University was selected as one of 16 programs around the Division III landscape to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship this weekend. Prior to the 8:15 p.m. tipoff against UMSV, the Freeman Center will also play host to a neutral site first round matchup featuring Marietta College and Johns Hopkins University.  Tip is slated for 5:45 p.m. as the NCAA has staggered start times around the bracket for maximum viewership opportunities. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available online at CNUsports.com for both games, with links found at the top of this page, on the Tournament Information Page, or by clicking through to the women's basketball schedule at CNUsports.com. 

For fans attending in person, tickets can be purchased online or at the Freeman Center box office prior to the doors opening on Friday. The gates will open one hour prior to tip of the first game and ticket prices are $15 for chairback and $10 for general admission tickes. 

CNU is hosting the opening weekend's action for the second straight year and it will mark the tenth home game in 24 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances. The Captains are 9-0 at home in the postseason event including a 6-0 run since head coach Bill Broderick took the reigns in 2012-13. CNU is 82-3 at home over the last eight seasons, in which the Captains have reached the NCAA Tournament each year, including the longest active home winning streak in Division III with 53 straight wins on C.J. Woollum Court. 

This year, the Captains captured the team's fifth straight conference championship including a third straight Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference title. In the championship game, fifth-year senior Katy Rader played in her 100th career game and continued to add to her impressive resume as the only CNU player left on the roster that appeared in a game prior to the CoVID-19 pandemic. Rader has helped lead CNU to 107 career wins and boasts nine NCAA Tournament victories in her tenure. This season, the York, Pa. native has returned to play in 17 games, including nine starts, and is averaging 6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. 

She is joined in the starting lineup by first team All-Conference forward Hannah Kaloi, who leads the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game, and senior forward Alivia Giles, the team's leading rebounder with 6.3 rebounds per game. In the back court, seniors Camille Malagar (10.0 ppg) and Gabbi San Diego (4.1 apg) round out the starting five, who have only played together five games this season. 

They, along with a talented group of reserves that lead the nation in bench scoring, will be taking on the Skyline Conference Champions in the University of Mount Saint Vincent (22-6). The Dolphins are a veteran squad led by Kira Villegas and Amber Been, a pair of fifth-year guards who combine for nearly 26 points and 15 rebounds per game this season. Sophomore Magan Jackson joins them in averaging double figures in the scoring column, pouring in 13.9 points per game to match Villegas for the team lead. 

The Dolphins are one of the top rebounding teams in the country, crashing the glass for 47.7 rebounds per game. Only one UMSV player is hauling in seven or more per game as the group effort includes seven different players with at least 4.0 rebounds per game or better. 

Following Friday's first round action, the two winning teams will advance to the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Saturday, March 2 at 7:45 p.m.