WINCHESTER, Va. -- An eight-game road swing to start the 2025-26 season will come to a close on Sunday afternoon as the 19th-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team travels to undefeated Shenandoah University (5-0) for a 3:00 p.m. tip against the Hornets.
For fans unable to make the trek to the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics and Events Center in Winchester, Virginia, live stats and a live video webcast will be available online. Live stats will be free of charge while the live video is accessible with a FloSports subscription. Links to both can be found on the women's basketball schedule at CNUsports.com.
The Captains (5-2), tied for 19th in this week's WBCA Division III Coaches Poll, will take on the Hornets, receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25, for just the second time since 2013. Longtime conference foes in the Dixie Intercollegiate turned USA South Athletic Conference, the two teams have matched up 47 times in the all-time series with CNU owning a 41-6 advantage. Christopher Newport has won 14 in a row, but only one of those wins has come in the last decade as the rivalry was renewed last season in Newport News where the Captains earned a 71-55 victory at home.
CNU has won three in a row coming into the matchup on Sunday, including wins at TCNJ, Arcadia, and Averett. Shenandoah enters the contest having won all five of its games so far this season including marquee wins against nationally-ranked Catholic (62-59) and Gettysburg (63-52).
As has been the case throughout head coach
Bill Broderick's tenure, balance has been the key to the early season success for Christopher Newport. Four different players have led the team in scoring in a game so far this season including junior
Caitlin Crump with a season-high 15 points against Averett earlier this week. Crump notched the second-highest scoring output of her career while knocking down a career-high five three-pointers against the Cougars.
Crump ranks third on the team in scoring, pouring in 8.1 points per game while starting all seven games for CNU. Also starting all seven contests is sophomore
Madison McKenzie, leading the squad with 13.4 points per game while adding a team-high 18 steals on the defensive end. Rookie
Sydney Worsham has been a spark off the bench, scoring 10.0 points per game so far this season.
The Captains have excelled defensively in the fourth quarter this season, outscoring opponents by 40 points in the final ten minutes through the first seven games. CNU is averaging only 10.6 points allowed in the fourth quarter including only 5.0 points per game in the three-game winning streak.
Shenandoah will look to counter the Captains with a strong defense of their own, holding opponents to just 54.6 points per game so far this season. On the offensive end, three Hornets are averaging double figures coming into Sunday's matchup including a team-high 16.0 points per game from Addisyn Banks. Emily Williams (14.2 ppg) and Brynna Nesselrodt (12.2 ppg) are helping lead the way for Shenandoah with Williams providing the top rebounding total as well with 8.2 rebounds per game.
The Captains will host Marymount University in the home opener on Tuesday, December 2. Tip against the Saints is set for 6:00 p.m.
