DEMOREST, Ga. -- The Christopher Newport women's basketball team shook off a slow start in their final regular season road game on Sunday, and held off Piedmont College for a 57-52 win in USA South action. The Captains improved to 18-2 overall with an 11-2 record in league play, while the Lions drop to 9-10, 5-8 in the league. 

The Captains started the game just 2-for-19, hitting under 11% of their shots in the first eight minutes of the game. Piedmont was unable to extend an early lead, however, and CNU tied things up at eight with 11:12 showing in the first half. The shooting would improve only slightly in the first half, but the Captains pieced together a strong second stanza to take care of Piedmont.

CNU took the lead at the 10-minute mark in the opening half, when senior Kelly Halverson knocked down a three-pointer off an assist by Chantal Thomas. Thomas added a layup on the next possession and Tia Perry hit a jumper with 8:20 left to put CNU up by six, 17-11. Both teams had small runs in the remainder, including a 6-0 spurt by Piedmont to end the half and cut the lead to two, 24-22. 

CNU managed to hit just 9-of-36 shots in the first half, for a 25% percentage. The Captains defense, though, had a strong stand and held Piedmont to just one more made field goal, with a 10-of-29 effort by the Lions, a 34.5% clip. 

Despite the late surge, the Captains would never give up the lead in the second half as momentum shifted back in their favor. A jumper by Kendra Stone in the paint with 11:34 left provided the first double-digit lead of the game as CNU pulled ahead 39-28. The 15-6 run to start the half was nearly completely erased, though, over the next two minutes. Piedmont scored 10 of the next 12 points to cut the lead to three, 41-38, a surge that covered just 2:12 of game clock.

The Captains defense would bend, but not break, though, and picked things back on the other end of the floor. With 2:03 remaining, a free-throw from Thomas gave CNU its biggest lead, a 14-point edge at 57-43. In this game of runs, though, that would be the last point CNU would score and a 9-0 run in the final two minutes saw Piedmont cut the lead all the way to five, but CNU held on for a 57-52 victory. 

Sophomore Camry Green was 6-for-11 in the game, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds. She added one block and two steals, including a key theft in the final 20 seconds to take a scoring chance away from the Lions. Tia Perry added 13 points and four rebounds, while rookie Kendra Stone had nine points and seven rebounds off the bench, with three blocked shots.

Piedmont got a game-high 16 points from Lauren Anderson, and 12 points from Taylor Swoszowski. Alyssa Jones added eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals in the game. 

The Captains shot 50% from the second half, picking up their game effort to 35.5% from the field (22-62). 

CNU has now won five straight games and will look to avenge a loss to N.C. Wesleyan this Wednesday, February 6 at home, with tip set for 7:00 pm. It is the first of five home games to end the season and will be part of a special "Fill the Freeman" promotional event; fans are encouraged to wear blue in support of the Captains.