(HONOLULU, Hawaii) - The 10th-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team upset third-ranked Christopher Newport University, 74-64, on Sunday (December 19, 2010) in the first game of the Hoop N Surf Classic at McKinley High School Gymnasium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

With the win, the Saints remain undefeated at 8-0 overall.  With the loss, the Captains fall to 6-1 on the season.

Christopher Newport jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with 18:22 to play in the first quarter when Chelsie Schweers made a lay-up.  Undaunted the Saints responded with a 44-20 run to take a 44-26 lead when freshman guard Katie Kitchen (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) made a three-pointer with 1:23 to play before halftime.  CNU's Schweer made jumper with 41-seconds to play in the half to cut the lead to 44-28 at halftime. 

Thomas More opened the second half on a 5-2 run to increase the lead to 49-30 when senior forward Amy Stultz (Amelia, Ohio/McNicholas) made a three-pointer with 18:25 to play in the game.  The Captains answered with a 30-16 run to cut the lead to 65-60 with 2:07 to play in the game when Lauren Gural made two free-throws.  That would be as close as the Captains would come as the Saints closed out the game on a 9-4 run capped by two free-throws by senior center Nicole Dickman (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) with 13-seconds to play in the game for the final score of 74-64.

Three Saints finished in double figure scoring as Dickman had a team-high 18 points, sophomore guard Chelsea Tolliver (Morning View, Ky./Simon Kenton) had 17 and Kitchen finished with 15 points.  Sophomore forward/center Katie Kees (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) led the team in rebounding with eight and blocks with four, while sophomore guard Allison Long (Hebron, Ky./Conner) led the team in assists with eight and Kitchen led the team in steals with five.

Thomas More will play its second and final game of the Hoop N Surf Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday (December 20) when it play Ithaca College at 11 p.m. EST/6 p.m.