SALISBURY, Md. -- Overcoming a slow start on the road, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team won a back-and-forth final quarter to hold off Salisbury University (11-13) to close out the regular season on Friday, 64-57. CNU used a 9-0 run with less than five minutes to go to put away the upset-minded Sea Gulls and finished out the 2024-25 regular season at 24-1 with a 17-game winning streak. 

The CNU defense held Salisbury to just two points in the final four-and-a-half minutes when the game shifted into crunch time. For just the second time this season, the Captains trailed with less than five minutes to go when Nicole Miller scored the last of her game-high 28 points to give the home team a 55-53 advantage with 4:43 remaining. From there, the Captains veteran core took over. 

Moments later, sophomore Elizabeth Creed tied the game at 55-apiece to kickstart the 9-0 burst that finished out the game in an 11-2 flourish for the win. Over 90 seconds of scoreless back-and-forth ended when Hannah Orloff had a stickback after a pair of offensive rebounds. The Sea Gulls called a timeout, but out of the break, Orloff snagged a pivotal steal and got to the line for two free throws. 

Connecting on both at the line gave the Captains a 59-55 lead with two and a half to go and the senior forward came through with another huge defensive play the next time down the floor. As Kayla Nieberlein tried to dash through the lane, Orloff timed the shot and denied the attempt for her fourth block of the game. The rejection was followed by another senior Captain coming through with a huge moment; Gabbi San Diego received a pass back to the perimeter from Orloff and let it fly, connecting on a three-pointer with 90 seconds remaining to give the Captains a seven-point lead, 62-55. 

Salisbury could not get possession in the final minute as CNU failed to extend the lead but hauled in five offensive rebounds to keep the ball out of their hands. Too much time clicked off the clock and a late layup by Abby Plaugher would be all the hosts could muster. The Captains finished out the win with a pair of free-throws by Camille Malagar to close out the game-winning run up 64-57. 

Before the triumphant finish, the Captains trailed by as many as ten in the first 30 minutes when Salisbury took a 14-4 advantage with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter. CNU responded with an 11-0 run and the score was never beyond two possessions either way until the final burst by the Captains. The game featurerd 14 lead changes and 10 ties. 

The Captains withstood a hot-shooting performance by Nicole MIller who finished with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting including four three-pointers. Plaugher added 14 points for the Sea Gulls. On the other side, though, the Captains' balance proved too much for Salisbury. Malagar finished with a team-high 17 points while San Diego and McKenna Snively each added 11. Orloff (8 pts, 14 reb), and Creed (9 pts, 11 reb) each finished just shy of double-doubles. 

Snively and San Diego led a three-point shooting barrage that proved imperative in coming from behind against Salisbury on Friday. The duo each connected on three triples while Malagar and Hailey Kellogg each added one three-pointer.

The Captains dominated the glass against Salisbury, hauling in 49 rebounds including 23 on the offensive glass. Christopher Newport led the battle of the boards, 49-35. 

CNU will now shift focus to the postseason as they are set to travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin next weekend for the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Championship hosted by Mount Mary College. The Captains will play in the semifinal round on Friday, February 28 against an opponent TBD.