NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 7th ranked Captains finished the first half on a 17-0 run to take the lead for good against the Mary Washington Eagles (6-5) and locked down defensively for the second straight game to improve to 9-1 overall with a 68-47 win on Sunday. For the first time since the 2001-02 season, CNU dropped UMW, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Eagles.

Mary Washington came out firing in the first half, knocking down their first three 3-point attempts and adding a solid effort from the free-throw line in the first ten minutes (8-9) to take an eight-point lead, 21-13 with 10:39 remaining in the first half. The Captains defense, though, would impress the rest of the way, not allowing the Eagles to score for the remainder of the period.

CNU ended the half on a 17-0 run to take the lead into halftime, 30-21. The scoreless drought would not end for the Eagles until a pair of free throws from Rachel Martin over a minute into the second half. The Captains defense held UMW scoreless for a stretch of 11:49.

Even after the Eagles managed to break through, the Captains continued on their torrid run, holding the Eagles to just the two free-throws until the 14:46 mark. CNU's run would reach an impressive 35-7 over 22:26 of game time before a three-pointer from Rachel Martin with 8:13 remaining finally slowed the bleeding.

CNU held the Eagles back, not letting them get closer than 13 in the win, as the Captains held on for the 68-47 victory. The defense allowed Mary Washington to shoot just 23.9% from the field on 14-of-59 shooting.

Leading the charge was senior Chelsie Schweers, who finished the game with 27 points, despite being held to just four in the first half. She struggled from long-range, but slashed her way to another 25+ point performance, her sixth in 10 games this season.

Senior Jessica Moore was also key in the Captains running away in the second half, as she led the team with eight rebounds and four assists, while also pouring in eight points. Junior guard Kimmy Hopkins was the only other Captain in double figures, with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while rookie forward Nicole Mitchell was stellar off the bench, with nine points and eight rebounds.

Mary Washington was led by Martin, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding a pair of rebounds. Katie Wimmer had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, while leading scorer Jenna McRae was held to just 2-of-12 from the field, but managed seven points and eight rebounds.

The game was the final non-conference tilt for CNU as they will now turn their attention to USA South action, starting Wednesday. The Captains will take on Shenandoah for the second time this season with a game set for 5:30 pm on Wednesday, January 5. The men's teams will also play at 7:30 pm.