NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Captains led wire-to-wire and set a new scoring mark in their home gym with a 99-81 win over Ferrum College (10-4, 6-2) in USA South action today. Senior Chelsie Schweers set a season-high with 38 points to lead the way, as the fourth-ranked Captains improved to 13-1 overall this season, including a perfect 7-0 mark in league play.
The win gives CNU its 30th straight home victory, good for the third best streak in Division III. The 99 points was the most scored in the Freeman Center since it opened in the 2000-01 season. The previous high came against Hood College (11/24/07), as the Captains scored 98 in the home opener in 2007-08.
The Captains trademark defense was in solid form to start the game, holding Ferrum to just 25% shooting in the first half. The Captains, meanwhile, managed to shoot 41.2% in the first stanza, extending the lead to as many as 16 before heading into the locker room up 14, 43-29.
Schweers led the way for the Captains, scoring 19 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown.
In the second half, Christopher Newport came out firing again, and extended the lead to a game-high 23 points on a pair of free-throws from Schweers with 16:36 remaining, putting the score at 56-33. While Schweers would stay hot from the field, the Panthers began to chip away at the double-digit lead. Over the next eight, Ferrum would outscore CNU 31-15 to cut the lead back to just seven with 8:22 remaining.
Seniors Barbara Davis and Schweers finally stalled the attack with a pair of three-point plays on back-to-back possessions. Davis added a put-back bucket the next time down the floor and CNU led by 13 again.
The Captains held off the road team the rest of the way, finishing off the Panthers from the free-throw line and dropping Ferrum by a final of 99-81. Though Ferrum was much improved from the floor in the second half, the Captains steady attack, led by Schweers' season-high 38 points, was too much. CNU shot 50% from the field on 33-of-66 shooting.
The senior from Chesapeake knocked down 7 trey's and added four rebounds and five assists for CNU. Joining her in double figures was Jessica Moore, who scored a season-high 20, adding eight rebounds for CNU, and Davis posted another double-double, scoring 11 points and hauling in 14 rebounds. Newcomer Tiffany Davis also added 16 for CNU, dishing out four assists and grabbing six boards.
Ferrum got double figure scoring from four different players, getting a double-double from Brittney Bullock (12 pts, 10 reb) and led on the scoreboard by Kristen Keith, with 19 points.
CNU returns to the floor on Tuesday night, as they play host to Averett University in USA South play, with tip set for 5:30 pm.