ARLINGTON, Va. – Junior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) posted a double-double but it wasn't enough to lift the Gettysburg College women's basketball team to a win in its season opener as Christopher Newport University out-scored the Bullets by 20 in the second period for a 56-46 victory in the opening game of the Marymount University Tip-Off Tournament.
Gettysburg (1-0) opened with the first eight points of the new campaign as freshman Jessica Porter (Narberth, Pa./Lower Merion) knocked down three jumpers and Murphy tossed in a lay-up. The Bullets would hold the lead throughout the opening half with a lay-up by junior Rianna Doane (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) with 41 seconds left putting the advantage at 10 (21-11) heading into halftime.
After shooting just 17.9 percent from the field in the opening stanza, Christopher Newport (1-0) caught fire in the second half, knocking down 14-of-26 field goals (53.8 percent). The Captains quickly erased the deficit, tying the game at 23-all with a 12-2 run to start the final period.
Doane knocked down a lay-up to regain the lead for the Bullets, but Christopher Newport fired right back with a three-pointer by Brandi Holland putting the Captains up 26-25 with 14:03 to play.
Gettysburg remained within striking distance until a 12-2 run gave Christopher Newport its first double-figure lead at 48-37 with just over six minutes remaining. The Bullets would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.
Gettysburg finished 15-of-51 (29.4 percent) from the field and 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) from the free-throw line. Christopher Newport canned 19-of-54 (35.2 percent) of its shots and 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) free throws. The Captains out-rebounded the Bullets 40-37 and scored 24 points off turnovers.
Murphy finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds en route to her second career double-double. She was 4-of-13 from the field and 6-of-8 at the charity stripe, while adding a career-high four blocks. Porter tallied 11 points and five rebounds and Doane added seven points and a career-high six steals.
Camry Green led Christopher Newport with 18 points and 17 rebounds and Tia Perry added a dozen points.
Gettysburg will face the loser between Bridgewater (Va.) College and host Marymount in Saturday's consolation game at 5 p.m.