NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Led by a career-best performance from sophomore guard Jordan Miller, the third-ranked Christopher Newport Captains improved to 3-1 today, holding off a late rally by Roanoke College (2-3) for a 74-70 victory. Miller poured in a career-high 16 points, including four three-pointers, five rebounds and a blocked shot. 

The Captains shook off foul trouble in the first half, with six different players picking up their second personal before intermission, and still poured in 50 points to take a big lead after 20 minutes of play. CNU led 50-32, primarily powered by strong shooting from beyond the arc. Miller drained a pair, Mitchell had two and rookie Taylor Delgado also had a couple. Brandi Holland and Lauren Cox each added one as CNU finished with eight treys in the opening stanza. 

Mitchell led the 43.9% shooting effort in the first, going 4-for-7  from the field for a game-high 10 points, adding five rebounds and a pair of steals. Holland had a stellar opening frame with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. 

CNU build the lead to double figures quickly, opening the game on a 14-3 burst just five minutes into the game. The Maroons hung in for most of the frame by knocking down 13-of-20 free-throw attempts. 

After another three-pointer by Miller to start the second half, CNU had a game-high 21-point lead, 53-32. Roanoke responded in a big way, though, scoring ten straight points to pull back within 11. Mitchell and Miller had back-to-back buckets, including the sophomore's fourth trey of the game, and CNU pulled back ahead b y 16, with 15:05 remaining, 58-42. 

Roanoke would chip away in the final 15 minutes, pulling within five, 61-56, with 9:24 remaining on a three-pointer by Tatum McKee and then again when McKee knocked down a fast-break layup with 6:25 remaining. The CNU defense would bend, but not break, answering the spurt by scoring six of the next seven to lead by ten with 4:35 to go, 71-61. 

CNU held off the rally in the final minutes despite a last-minute three by Laurel Hankins and a buzzer-beating lay-in by Paxton Gwin that would get the score down to the final four-point edge, 74-70. 

Facing foul trouble throughout the game, CNU got contributions from all over the court. The bench scored 35 of the 74 points, led by Holland's 15. Chantal Thomas and Delgado added six, while Brianna Moses and Cox added five as reserves. The starting group was led by Miller's team-high 16 points, while Mitchell added 15 and nine rebounds on 6-of-13 from the floor.

Roanoke was led by a double-double from McKee, with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Gwin and Hankins added 18 points and Gwin finished just one board shy of a double-double. 

CNU will now take a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday, before returning to action next Sunday, December 1 at 2:00 pm. The Captains will host unbeaten Randolph College (4-0) in non-conference action, with live stats and video links available at CNUsports.com.