NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - No. 6 in the nation Christopher Newport University used a strong first half to fuel a 59-40 USA South Conference women's basketball victory over Shenandoah.

The Captains (10-1, 4-0 USA South) sweep the season series with the victory over the Hornets (4-7, 0-4).

Shenandoah shot just 3 for 33 (9.1 percent) in the opening 20 minutes of play as CNU jumped out to a 27-9 halftime advantage.

The Captains led for all but 27 seconds of the contest; Nicole Gilbertson tied it for the Hornets with a layup in the paint at 19:34 after Christopher Newport had scored the opening bucket of the game on a Chelsie Schweers jumper just 10 seconds in.

CNU scored the next six points of the game and never looked back against the Hornets.

After a pair of Gilbertson free throws cut the deficit to four points, 8-4, at 15:44, Christopher Newport reeled off 14 of the game's next 16 points to take 22-6 advantage with just over five minutes to play in the opening stanza.

Down 26 at halftime, Shenandoah refused to fold its tents and played the Captains virtually even in the second half.

SU scored 31 points to the Christopher Newport's 32 in the final 20 minutes, led by senior Stephanie Holton's 10.

Holton paced the Hornets with 11 points in the game.

Schweers, a three-time All-American, had a game-high 25 points.

Shenandoah is back in action on Saturday at home against N.C. Wesleyan. Game time is 2:00.