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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team is back in action on Saturday afternoon as the Captains (16-1) welcome in long-time conference rival Salisbury University (8-8) for a 2:00 p.m. tip. 

The matchup is the 45th all-time meeting between the two programs from the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference. Christopher Newport holds a 32-12 advantage in the series including 17 straight wins heading into Saturday's bout. The two teams represent the top two teams in the conference standings to this point as they face off in the front end of a home-and-home series this seasoon. 

For fans unable to attend in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. Links to both can be found at the top of this page and on the women's basketball schedule page. 

The Captains have run off nine straight victories while improving to 16-1 on the season including a dominant 55-point victory against Warren Wilson last weekend. In that game, Gabbi San Diego moved into a tie for tenth all-time in career assists with 328 helpers in 84 career games. She tied Samantha Davis for tenth in program lore and has now set her sights on a three-way tie for seventh at 340 between Makenzie Fancher, Chelsie Schweers, and Zhara Tannor.

San Diego also ranks 21st nationally among active Division III players in career assists and, while she does not yet qualify to the NCAA standards this season because of limited playing time due to an injury, her assist-to-turnover ratio (2.36) would rank in the top-15 nationally. Earlier this week, the Captains' veteran was selected to participate in the prestigious WBCA So You Want To Be A Coach program and will attend the national convention in early April. 

Offensively, the Captains are putting together one of the most potent seasons in program history while ranking sixth in Division III in points per game this season (80.9). Arguably the most balanced attack in Division III, the lineup does not feature a single player averaging double figures despite the high-scoring offense. CNU is the only team among the top 75 scoring offenses without a single player averaging at least 10 points per game; in fact, the next highest-scoring offense without a double-digit scorer is Grove City, ranked 87th, averaging 69.1 points per game -- nearly 12 points per game fewer than CNU. 

Among the offensive leaders are fifth-year senior guard Camille Malagar, pouring in 9.4 points per game on over 45 percent shooting, and senior forward Hannah Orloff, adding 8.1 points per game while leading the squad in rebounding with 6.9 boards per game. 

Coming into Saturday's matchup, Salisbury has dropped four in a row to fall even at 8-8 on the season. The Sea Gulls, under second year head coach and alumna Aprile Preller, feature one of the top defenses in the league while holding opponents to just 56.6 points per game. On the perimeter, Salisbury ranks 47th nationally and leads the C2C with a .237 field-goal percentage against from three-point range. 

This season, three Salisbury players are averaging double figures while being led by Nicole Miller with 13.4 points per game. Abby Plaugher (11.2 ppg) and Kayla Nieberlein (10.5 ppg) are also leading the offense.

The matchup at the Freeman Center is the second of four straight home games for CNU and the Captains will return to the home floor on Wednesday, January 22 to host Virginia Wesleyan University. Tip against the Marlins is set for 6:00 pm