WILMINGTON, Ohio -- Closing out the season-opening tournament appearance at Wilmington College with a win against UC Santa Cruz (1-1), the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team captured a 64-54 win to post a 2-0 weekend at the Fred Raizk Memorial Tournament. Sophomore Madison McKenzie led the Captains with 15 points while junior Caitlin Crump added 12 points for CNU. 

The Captains' defense held the Banana Slugs to just 54 points including a seven-point third quarter that allowed Christopher Newport to separate on the scoreboard. CNU scored 14 straight points in the third quarter to open up a double-digit lead with 2:34 remaining, 44-34. 

In the run, Crump slammed in a three-pointer and Sarah Pritz added a jumper to put the Captains in front. After a pair of free throws went down for newcomer Atiana Williams, the Captains added another three-pointer, this time from Sydney Worsham, and a second-chance bucket by Pritz. The run closed out at 14-0 when Jessica Dornak finished on a feed by Crump and CNU took the largest lead of the game. 

A three-point play by Alexa Litchev and two more free-throws by Litchev closed the lead to five, but UC Santa Cruz would get no closer as CNU controlled the rest of the game. Starting the fourth quarter, the Captains got a pair of free throws from McKenzie and Crump jumped a passing lane in the press to earn a fast-break layup. With the quick start, the lead was back to 10, 49-39, and the Captains held off the Banana Slugs rally. 

Elizabeth Creed notched a layup in the middle portion of the period off an assist by senior point guard Hailey Kellogg, who finished with a game high five assists. Mia Wilson then got into the action with five straight points, burying a triple and adding a fast-break layup with 3:35 remaining to give the Captains a 12-point advantage, 57-45. 

Santa Cruz hit a couple shots late, but the Captains answered with jumpers by Williams and Dornak while icing the victory at the line as Kellogg and Creed combined to go 3-for-4 at the stripe in the final minute. 

In the decisive third quarter, the Captains held UC Santa Cruz to just 2-of-11 shooting from the field for 18.2 percent including an 0-for-3 effort from beyond the arc. CNU forced eight Banana Slugs turnovers in the period and worked for 24 total in the game. Atiana Williams had three steals to lead the way while Creed and Kellogg each added to thefts. 

McKenzie led the Captains with a 15-point effort including a 5-for-5 showing from the free-throw line. She added four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in a well-rounded effort. Crump had 12 points and Wilson finished with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting. 

Litchev led UC Santa Cruz with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting while Emilie Ngo added 14 points for the Banana Slugs. 

Christopher Newport will return to the hardwood next weekend as they travel to Bridgewater College for another Invitational Tournament. CNU will take on the host Eagles first, at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, before also facing No. 10 Johns Hopkins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16.