NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Led by a career-high 28 points from sophomore Nicole Mitchell, the Christopher Newport University women's basketball team surged to their 11th straight victory, beating N.C. Wesleyan College (9-8, 6-6) at home, 84-75. The Captains improved to 16-3 overall, 11-1 in USA South play, as Mitchell led the team's highest scoring output of the season.

After a slow start to the first half for both teams, the Captains pulled ahead by nine on a tough three-point play by Mitchell at the 10:09 mark. She converted the free-throw to put CNU up 23-14, the largest lead at that point. It was the end of a quick surge that saw CNU score 8 of 10 points in just one minute from 11:09-10:09.

A bucket from Derreon Cole got the Bishops back within seven, 23-16, but CNU surged again, scoring eight of the next nine to take a 14-point lead, 31-17, with 4:15 remaining in the half. The 16-5 run gave CNU some breathing room in the first half before closing with a 13-point lead at the break, 41-28.

Mitchell had 13 points and four rebounds in the first 20 minutes, while rookie Camry Green was well on her way to another double-double with six points and seven rebounds. Cole had 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting for N.C. Wesleyan while the rest of the team shot just 5-of-23 in the first half.

The Captains looked inside in the second half, feeding Mitchell for the first nine CNU points after halftime. She led the way as the Captains built the lead to a game-high 19 with 9:52 remaining in the game, as CNU led 65-46.

CNU led by double digits until there were four minutes remaining, when N.C. Wesleyan was in the midst of a 14-3 run and mounting a late comeback. A pair of free-throws from NeTaih Davis got the Bishops within single digits, 74-65, and a layup by Linesha Tinsley made the deficit just seven, 74-67, but senior Kimmy Hopkins finally stopped the run with a mid-range baseline jumper at the 1:27 mark.

The teams traded baskets in the final minute and a half and CNU escaped with an 84-75 victory to the conference foe.

Mitchell finished with a career-high 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding seven rebounds and an 8-for-9 day from the free-throw line. Green's double-double was a 13-point, 13-rebound performance, while Hopkins and sophomore Andrea Hobbs finished with 10 points. Hopkins added a game-high six assists for CNU.

Wesleyan also had four players in double figures, getting 10 each from Shelby Jackson, Cole and Tinsley, and a team-high 18 points from Tiffany Bell. Shanice Goree struggled in a 1-for-10 shooting night, but dished four assists and had two steals for the Bishops.

The Captains return to action this weekend as they hit the road for two conference games. CNU will face Meredith College in Raleigh this Saturday, February 4, followed by a Super Bowl Sunday matchup at Ferrum College on February 5.