NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Solid team defense and sharp-shooting in the first half led to a big lead for 17th-ranked Christopher Newport (27-2) on Friday night, as CNU coasted to a 66-47 opening round win over Guilford (24-4) in the NCAA Tournament. The Captains forced 19 turnovers and held the ODAC champions to just 47 points, tied for their second lowest scoring output of the year.

CNU advances to play Marymount University (24-4) in Saturday's second round matchup, after the Saints beat Eastern Mennonite in Friday's first game. 

Guilford led just once in the game, taking a 4-2 advantage three minutes into the contest before CNU went on a 17-2 tear to take the lead for good. Junior Tia Perry was key in the run, scoring seven points and getting a pair of steals leading to points. The lead would build to as many as 19, with 1:28 remaining in the half on another bucket by Perry, before CNU closed the half with a buzzer-beater from Nicole Mitchell for a 40-19 lead headed into the locker room. 

At halftime, Perry had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding four steals and three rebounds. Senior Kelly Halverson, who came into the game averaging over 18 points per game over the last five, dropped 11 points in the first half with a trio of three-pointers.  Rookie Brandi Holland also knocked down three treys, adding nine points in the opening stanza. 

But the story would prove to be the defense, as CNU forced 15 first-half turnovers and the Quakers knocked down just nine first-half field goals. Guilford averaged 13 turnovers per game coming into the matchup, and had already eclipsed that mark by halftime. Morgan King had ten points and six rebounds, but only one other player hit more than one shot in the first half for Guilford. The Captains defense had nine steals and two blocks in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, staked to a big lead, CNU just held the Quakers at arms length throughout. Guilford outscored CNU, 28-26, in the second half, but the lead would build to 28 at 59-31 with 7:29 remaining in the game before GC finished on a 16-7 run for the final score, 66-47. 

Camry Green, who was limited to just four minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the second, finishing with a game-high 13 rebounds. Halverson added another three-pointer and finished with 14 points, while Perry also added three points to finish with 15. The Captains offense balanced out, with rookie Kendra Stone adding six points and eight rebounds and junior Nicole Mitchell chipping in six points and four rebounds. 

Perry finished with six steals, leading an Captains defense that had 12 takeaways in the game. CNU held Guilford to just 36.4% shooting in the game, on 20-of-55 shooting. 

Morgan King had a double-double for the Quakers, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with 10 points and a pair of blocks. 

CNU will now advance to play Marymount, who they faced three and a half months ago in game two of the season. The Captains came away with a 64-52 win in that game, but Marymount has run off 13 straight wins, including the Capital Athletic Conference Championship. The Saints, like the Captains, feature a stifling defense, that is allowing just 46.8 points per game this season. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com