NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A coming out party for the freshman class led the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team to a dominant win over Meredith College (5-11) on Wednesday night as the Captains improved to 18-1 with an 80-29 victory in the Freeman Center. Five CNU rookies combined for 57 points and 32 rebounds including career high scoring outputs for four of the five. 

The Captains stayed perfect at home this year, improving to 7-0, and extended the nation's second longest active home winning streak to 47 straight. Across the NCAA landscape including all three divisions, both men and women, only Division I power South Carolina has a longer run in the team's home building with 50 in a row. The Captains' program record streak stretches back to December 1, 2018 and is tied with George Fox, from 2009-13, for the 11h longest run in Division III history. 

Defense led the way in the win over the Avenging Angels as Christopher Newport improved to 17-1 all-time against their former conference foe. CNU held Meredith to single digits in all four quarters, marking only the third time that has happened for the Captains' stingy defense since the NCAA changed the women's game to four quarters in 2015-16.

The tormenting Chaos defense forced just under a turnover per minute with 39 while the Captains snagged 22 steals. Eleven of the 12 active players in the game recorded at least one steal, led by four from rookie Julia Schutz. Alexia Lindsey, Caitlin Crump, and Mia Wilson each added three for the Captains in the suffocating full-court pressure by CNU. 

While the defense took care of business on that end of the floor, the CNU offense raced out to an early lead, 13-2, over the first six minutes of action. Hailey Kellogg kicked off the game with a three-pointer after a broken play down low, recovering for CNU off a feed by Elizabeth Creed. Kellogg then promptly added a steal and found Camille Malagar for a fast-break layup. After another turnover by the Angels, CNU finished second chance points after three offensive rebounds with a bucket by Creed; the Captains were up 7-0 and had taken six shots before Meredith ever reached mid-court. 

CNU outscored the visitors, 37-15, in the first half, and were led by Mia Wilson with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting including a pair of triples. The freshman scored 10 of her career-high 12 points in the first half before turning to her passing game in the second half and adding five assists. Caitlin Crump came off the bench and added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the first half to set the freshman class off to a great start. 

The Captains were missing three veteran starters -- Gabbi San Diego, Hannah Kaloi, and Alivia Giles -- but the first-year players filled the void. Crump notched her second career double-double with a career-high 16 points paired with 11 rebounds; the freshman from Herndon, Va. added five assists, three steals, and a blocked shot in a well-rounded overall performance. Just missing a double-double in 20 minutes of action, classmate Jessica Dornak also enjoyed a breakout performance with a career-high 14 points and 8 rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting. Dornak added a pair of blocks and two steals as well. 

Adding to the freshman success was Creed, pouring in a career-high 13 points and grabbing a personal high with eight rebounds. Her three blocked shots matches the team's single game high for the season, tied with Hannah Orloff and Alivia Giles. Finally, Schutz put her stamp on the game with solid defense, leading the team in steals while adding two points and two rebounds. 

Christopher Newport will look to extend a six-game winning streak when they return to action this Saturday, January 20 against Warren Wilson College at the Freeman Center. The Captains will host the C2C foe at 2:00 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's teams.