ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Led by one of the best performances in the career of senior Tia Perry, the third-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team improved to 2-1 on the season with an 87-72 win at N.C. Wesleyan College (1-2). Perry poured in 28 points and added 13 rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots as CNU powered past their former conference rivals with a 52.6% shooting night as a team.

The Captains held just a two-point edge at halftime, 38-36, despite building a double-digit lead and hitting 57.1% of their shots in the opening stanza. CNU raced out to a 13-point lead less than six minutes into the game with a game-opening 18-5 run. Perry had six and sophomore Kendra Stone added five early points in the roll. 

The Battling Bishops would close the half on a 20-7 run of their own, though, to close things back to just two. The home team was just 13-for-33 from the floor in the first 20 minutes, but Kenyata Harris led the comeback effort with 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers. 

Momentum appeared on the side of the Bishops, but out of the locker room, Christopher Newport would assure itself the wire-to-wire victory with strong shooting from the free-throw line. In the first five and a half minutes of the second half, CNU would drop seven of their eight attempts from the line, including a pair of and-one opportunities from Andrea Hobbs and La'Shay Lucas. 

A three-pointer from Tiffany Bell would cut the lead to three, 51-48, with 14:30 remaining, but the Captains would then get on another run, scoring seven straight points and ten of the next 12 to re-take a double-digit lead. Surging ahead by 11 with 10 minutes to go on a fast-break layup by Brandi Holland, the Captains woud not relinquish the double-figure lead again. 

CNU wrapped up the game with a 30-for-57 shooting night (52.6%) and added four three-pointers. The Bishops would outrebound CNU, 45-39, but the Captains forced 22 turnovers and turned them into 30 points in the game.

Three different Captains finished in double figures, led by Perry's game-high 28. Senior Nicole Mitchell and Holland added 12 apiece, while Hobbs filled the stat sheet with eight points, four steals and a game-high six assists. 

N.C. Wesleyan also had three players in double digits, as Tiffany Bell led the way on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor, with 17 points. Harris drained four three-pointers and wrapped the game with 16 points and Jordan Cager added 13. 

Christopher Newport will now head back to the Freeman Center for their home opener this weekend, as they host Roanoke College on Sunday, November 24 at Noon. Links to live stats and live video will be available at CNUsports.com