NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Four Captains finished in double figures and junior Jessica Daguilh picked up her first double-double of the season as nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's hoops opened Capital Athletic Conference action with a 67-52 win over Salisbury University on Wednesday night. The Captains (5-0,1 -0) shook off a slow start and rolled to the win over the Sea Gulls (3-3, 0-1) in front of just under 500 fans at the Freeman Center.

Daguilh played 22 minutes and finished with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her double-double. The 12 points matched Bailey Dufrene and Makenzie Fancher to lead the team in scoring, while Sam Porter added 11 points as well. 

After an eight-day break for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Captains engine needed some warming up against a tough Salisbury defense, but the nationally-ranked CNU squad found it's groove late in the second quarter and raced to the finish line. CNU managed just six points and trailed by two, 8-6, at the end of the first ten minutes and were down by as many as seven, 16-9, with 6:25 left in the first half.

A triple from senior Anitra Thomas kickstarted a 15-6 run to end the half as CNU took the lead for the first time with under 30 seconds left in the second quarter. Junior Zhara Tannor found Makenzie Fancher open for a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to put the Captains on top 24-21. A free-throw from Amber Onyekwere would bring the halftime score to 24-22, in favor of the Captains. 

The third quarter is where CNU kicked into gear. After a three-pointer from Morgan Grubb opened the action and put Salisbury back on top by one, 25-24, the Captains used its patented high-octane defense to force three turnovers in the next five possessions as the home team went on a 17-2 run to take a 14-point lead with 41-27 left in the third quarter. Porter and Tannor led the defensive effort with a pair of steals, while buckets close to the basket were key on the offensive end with 14 of the 17 points in the run coming in the paint. 

The lead would grow to as many as 17, at 52-34, as CNU dominated the third quarter by doubling up the Sea Gulls, 28-14. Daguilh led the way with seven poitns and four rebounds while Dufrene chipped in 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting. 

With a lead in hand in the fourth quarter, the Captains put it into cruise control and held off the conference rivals in the fourth quarter for the final score of 67-52. 

Tannor filled the box score on the day with a stellar effort on both ends of the floor. She finished with eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and five total points. She led the Captains' defensive efforts while Porter added three steals and Dufrene, Devon Byrd, and Daguilh each had a pair. 

The leading scorers for CNU were efficient from the field as Porter wrapped up her day 5-7, Dufrene was 6-11, Daguilh 5-10, and Fancher 4-9, including a 4-for-7 performance from long range. The four leading scorers combined for 47 points on 20-of-37 shooting for a rate of over 54% from the field. 

Salisbury got 12 points from senior Mary McDonagh while Megan Konig and Rachel Ryan each threatened double-doubles with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 points, 10 rebounds, respectively. 

CNU will return to action this Saturday, December 2 as the Captains host Frostburg State in CAC action at 2:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available at CNUsports.com/live.