NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Another 20-point performance from senior Tia Perry led a balanced attack for the 11th-ranked Captains on Sunday, as Christopher Newport (4-1) blew past previously unbeaten Randolph College (5-1) in non-conference action, 83-57. Perry led all scorers with 26 points, but was the only Captain in double figures as all but one CNU player finished with at least one point in the scorebook.

The Captains shared the ball on Sunday, dishing out 17 assists on 30 made field goals, and seven different players registered at least one dime. Sophomore Brandi Holland led the way with six assists, while Perry and rookie Lauren Cox each added three. 

The two teams were evenly matched for the first 12 minutes of action, with the WildCats taking a four-point edge, 21-17 on a jumper by Jensen Hoover. In the final third of the first half, though, the Captains raised the pressure and ended the stanza on a 27-9 run, keyed by Perry's leadership.

The senior from Goldsboro, N.C. scored on back-to-back possessions with five and a half minutes left, including a fast-break layup after a steal, giving CNU the lead for good at 23-22. A pair of free-throws and another layup by Perry were followed by a big run of eight straight points, including two straight three-pointers from Nicole Mitchell. With the lead up to nine after the second, with just 2:18 to go, the Captains continued to push the tempo. In the final minute, CNU got a pair of steals and used great passing to find open looks and build the lead to 14, 44-30, at the break.

Perry had 16 points and six rebounds in the first half, while chipping in three steals to the stifling defense late in the half. Holland had already registered five assists and five rebounds, while putting in four points of her own. CNU managed to shoot over 41% in the frame after starting the game just 4-for-17. 

On the other side, Randolph couldn't get the ball to go down, shooting just 34% from the field on 11-of-32 attempts. Chelsea Tyler led the way with eight points, while Hoover added six, but they were the only WildCats with more than one made field goal. 

In the second half, the Captains kept the pressure on the gas pedal and raced out to a 23-point lead less than five minutes into the second stanza. Two more fast-break buckets, including a lay-in from freshman Brianna Moses, would give CNU a 55-32 lead with 15:15 left in the game.

With head coach Bill Broderick going to the bench, CNU would hold off any potential rally by the WildCats, maintaining the lead by no fewer than 21 points the rest of the way. Rookies Taylor Delgado, Cox, Moses and Mayumi Shill would all find their way into the scoring column. Delgado had seven points off the bench while Cox added six points, three rebounds and three assists. Sophomores Anika Trent and La'Shay Lucas combined for three points and five rebounds while seniors Chantal Thomas and Nicole Pandak added four points and three boards.

Perry finished her strong performance with 26 points on 11-of-19 from the field, adding eight rebounds. Six of the eight boards came on the offensive glass and helped lead CNU to 22 second-chance points in the game. 

Just one WildCat made it into double figures, as Chelsea Tyler finished with 12 points. Korin Harris added nine rebounds and Hoover just missed a double double with eight points and eight rebounds. 

With the non-conference slate nearly wrapped up, CNU will now turn its attention to the league, taking on Southern Virginia and York College (Pa.) in their next two matchups. The Captains will travel to Buena Vista to take on the Knights this Wednesday, December 4, at 5:30 pm, before a big conference showdown with the undefeated Spartans on Saturday, December 7, at 1:00 pm.