FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- It was a game billed as one of the biggest defensive showdowns of the season, pitting the host Mary Washington Eagles (11-3, 5-2) against the Christopher Newport Captains (12-2, 5-2) and it did not disappoint as such. The Captains rallied in the second half to pull away on the road for a 58-48 win at Mary Washington, led by a strong third quarter from Sam Porter and Jessica Daguilh. 

Despite scoring just 18 points in the first half, the Captains pieced together a strong second half against one of the nation's toughest defenses for the win. Both teams ranked in the top ten nationally in scoring defense and showed off their grit again on Wednesday, combining for just 106 total points. The Eagles ranked third nationally, holding opponents to just 44.7 points per game, but the Captains managed to pour in 40 points in the second half to create some distance in the win. 

The first half was a struggle for both teams offensively, but the Eagles managed to outscore the Captains, 13-9, in both the first and second quarters. After CNU opened the game with a 9-5 lead, it was all Eagles the rest of the way as the home team outscored CNU 22-9 heading into halftime. The Captains floundered offensively, scoring just two points in the final 4:25 of the first half, allowing the Eagles to build an eight point lead, 26-18. 

CNU was just 6-of-22 from the field in the first half for 27.3% shooting, led by Devon Byrd's five points. Byrd played just seven minutes, though, due to foul trouble and finished the half as the Captains lone player with multiple field goals made.

Out of the locker room, however, the potent CNU offense, leading the CAC with 75.1 points per game, shifted into gear. Just over three minutes into the third quarter, the Captains had erased the deficit and took the lead, 27-26. Led by freshman forward Jessica Daguilh, the run would grow to a 13-0 spurt for the Captains as they matched their then-game-high five-point advantage, 31-26. CNU pounded inside, as ten of the 13 points came in the paint with six from Daguilh, two from Porter and a pair from Bailey Dufrene. 

A mid-range jumper by Meghan Comer stalled the run for CNU for a moment, but Daguilh and Ponzo hit three free-throws to take a six-point edge, 34-28. In the final three minutes of the third quarter, the Eagles went on a mini 6-2 run to cut the lead back to two, 36-34, but at the start of the fourth quarter, the Captains offense pushed back from beyond the arc.

After the two teams combined to shoot just 1-of-12 in the first half from three-point land, the Captains leaned on the triple in the fourth to create some distance. Dufrene buried a three from the corner, followed by another by Makenzie Fancher on the wing. The Eagles got back to within four, 45-41, when rookie Zhara Tannor hit what proved to be the dagger with 4:17 remaining, a long three from the right side that gave CNU a seven-point edge, 48-41. 

Turnovers plagued Mary Washington in the final four minutes, and CNU converted eight straight free-throws at the line to ice the victory, 58-48. The Captains were 17-of-21 from the charity stripe in the second half, knocking down 81% of their tries. Daguilh scored seven points in the second half, and Porter capped off her first double-double of the season with a nine-point, five-board second stanza. 

Porter led all players with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while adding two assists and a blocked shot in 35 minutes of action. Daguilh added nine off the bench, including the crucial six-point stretch in the second half. 

Sarah Listenbee also posted a double-double for the Eagles, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while adding four blocks. Senior Megan Green chipped in 12 points on 5-7 shooting for Mary Washington. The Captains held leading scorer Brianne Comden to just 1-7 shooting and four total points before fouling out with just 15 minutes played. 

CNU shook off their rough first half to finish 35.6% from the field on 16-45 shooting. The Captains also grabbed a season-low two steals after coming in ranked third in the nation with 17 thefts per contest. It was the third straight contest that an opponent shot under 30% and also the third straight sub-50 point performance for their foe. 

The Captains return to action on Saturday, January 16 as they host another tough CAC matchup in the Freeman Center. CNU will take on York College of Pennsylvania (12-2, 6-1) at 2:00 pm with live stats and live video available at CNUsports.com/live.