GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- The dream first season for head coach Bill Broderick came to an end on Saturday, as the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport Captains (29-3) fell to top-ranked and undefeated DePauw University (32-0) in the NCAA Elite Eight, 76-55. Four Captains finished in double figures, led by junior Nicole Mitchell with 16.

Christopher Newport concludes its season with the second deepest run into the NCAA Tournament. in program history. The Captains reached the Final Four in 2011, making this the second trip to the Elite Eight in three years. Broderick finished out one of the most successful inaugural campaigns in NCAA Div. III Women's Basketball history with three NCAA Tournament victories and 29 total W's. Senior Kelly Halverson also finishes out her career with the most victories (111) and best winning percentage all-time for CNU (88.8%). 

CNU managed to match the top-ranked Tigers for most of the game, but a 12-2 run halfway through the opening stanza would be all DePauw needed. The Captains trailed by just three, 11-8, with 12:38 remaining, when the Tigers bursted forward with a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to take a double-digit lead, 21-10. Senior Ellie Pearson was at the crux of it all for the Tigers, as she set a season-high in scoring in just the first half, with 14 points. 

In the remainder of the first half, DePauw outscored the Captains by just two, and held a 38-25 advantage at the break. Nicole Mitchell was a big reason CNU held in, going 3-for-4 from the floor for six points in the first half. The Captains spread the ball around, and hit 44% of their shots in the first half, getting five from Halverson, and four points each from Tia Perry and Brandi Holland. 

In the second half, the story was much the same, as DePauw had an answer for every run the Captains mounted. Out of the locker room, CNU opened with a 6-1 run to cut it to eight points, 39-31, but the Tigers answered with a 6-0 run to erase the surge. Later in the half, Mitchell hit a pair of jumpers from the elbow to the cut the lead back to 10, and Holland picked off a pair of passes in midcourt for a couple easy baskets, but both times DePauw answered. Savannah Trees hit a three-pointer with 8:30 remaining to get the lead back to 14 and a pair of free-throws from Ali Ross on the next possession made it 16 with less than eight to go. 

That would be about it for CNU, who managed to match the Tigers for the bulk of the second half. Prior to the final stretch where DePauw was sent to the line six times in the last 4:13, the Tigers only outscored CNU by one in the second half. The home team would be strong from the line, and extended the lead to 21 for the final, but the Captains hung tough with the top team in the nation.

In the end, CNU had four players in double figures, led by Mitchell's 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Camry Green added 12 points and five rebounds, while Perry and Holland each had 10 for CNU. The Captains shot 43.6% in the game as a team. 

Another key difference statistically came at the charity stripe, as DePauw got to the line 25 times and converted on 21 shots. CNU picked up just 10 free-throws, knocking down six. 

Pearson finished with a career-high 21 points, tied for a game-high with teammate Savannah Trees. Alex Gasaway (12) and Kate Walker (11) also finished in double figures as DePauw hit 52% of their shots in the Elite Eight victory.

Christopher Newport notched the third most wins in program history this season and the second fewest losses. The Captains boast a squad that will graduate just one senior this season.