FERRUM, Va. -- The postseason will roll on for 20th-ranked Christopher Newport, as the Captains used a dominant second half to power past their former conference foes, 16th-ranked Ferrum College (27-3), handing the Panthers just their third loss of the season, 75-66. The senior class for CNU (24-5) will now advance to their third career NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, taking on the winner of Whitman (21-7) and Whitworth (27-1) in next week's sectional round. 

On Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd at Swartz Gymnasium on the campus of Ferrum College, the Captains were led by senior Nicole Mitchell with 20 points. She was one of four players in double figures for CNU, including Camry Green who posted her third straight double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. 

The Captains were facing their former USA South rivals in the best season of Ferrum College women's basketball history. The Panthers won the conference regular season and tournament championships, and also picked up the team's first ever NCAA Tournament victory. Ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage coming into Saturday night's game with a 47% mark as a team, averaging 77.7 points, it was the Captains defense that stood taller by holding Ferrum to just 38% and 66 total points. 

The battle was back-and-forth in the first half, before CNU managed to head into the locker room with a two-point edge, 35-33. The game turned, however, when the Captains burst out of the break on a 17-6 run to take a 13-point lead, 52-39. The spurt took just over six and half minutes of game clock as CNU grabbed control offensively. 

The lead would build all the way to 17 points at 58-41 with 12:15 remaining, when sophomore Brandi Holland scooped in a layup. As Ferrum pushed back the Captains managed to answer each time. After the Panthers traded baskets and got the lead down to 15, a nice save by Chantal Thomas started a big play for the Captains. Thomas saved a would-be out-of-bounds pass and dished off to senior Andrea Hobbs; a quick touch pass by Hobbs out to the wing found Holland wide open for a three-pointer and the sophomore nailed the shot to give CNU its largest lead of the night, 63-45. 

In the final ten minutes, the Captains held onto a double-digit lead for the majority, withstanding every run by the Panthers and answering back from the interior. Green, Mitchell and sophomore Kendra Stone all came through with key baskets, holding off the home team's potential rally. Stone had a flawless day at the free-throw line and finished with a perfect 8-for-8 effort. She tied Chelsie Schweers (vs. Johns Hopkins, 3/5/11) and Alysa Kerr (vs. Roanoke, 3/6/10) for the second best free-throw shooting performance in CNU's NCAA Tournament history.

The sophomore forward poured in a season-high and career-high-tying 13 points, while grabbing five rebounds. She joined Mitchell, with 20, and Green, with 16, as double figure scorers for CNU. Holland was the fourth player in double figures for the Captains, finishing with 13 points as well. 

Ferrum had three players finish in double figures, including a game-high 21-point performance from junior Jacole Hairston. Seniors Shea Smith (14 pts) and Boreika Burwell (11 pts) rounded out the double-figure scoring, while senior Kylene Culler added 13 rebounds for the Panthers. 

CNU held a significant advantage in second-chance points, with a 17-5 margin, and point off turnovers, at 18-9. The Captains forced just 14 turnovers, but held onto the ball extremely well, giving it away a season-low nine times. Christopher Newport shot 43.1% from the field, knocking down 25 field goals in 58 attempts. 

In program history, the Captains now own a winning record in the NCAA Tournament, improving to 17-16. That mark includes a 12-4 run in their last four trips to the big dance, with four straight trips to the NCAA Sweet 16.

Head coach Bill Broderick and the Captains will wait to find out the location and opponent of their Sweet 16 sectional round game. The Whitman/Whitworth game will tip at 10:00 pm (EST), being played on the West Coast. Top-ranked Thomas More and No. 17 Texas-Tyler have already advanced and will play eachother on the other side of the sectional. Stay tuned to CNUsports.com for more information on game times, location and tickets.