NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team managed to remain undefeated on Saturday, following a 75-57 victory at home over Penn State Harrisburg (3-15, 2-10). The Captains improved to 19-0 overall with a perfect 12-0 record in conference play, while extending the second longest winning streak in program history. 

Junior Bailey Dufrene led a balanced attack that saw 13 different players get into the scoring column, including eight with six points or more. Dufrene finished with a season-high matching 12 points, and no other CNU player finished in double figures. Helping facilitate a well-run offense, the Captains' starting backcourt combined for 13 assists, led by a career-high tying seven from Zhara Tannor. Makenzie Fancher finished with six dimes, and CNU assisted on 20 of 29 total field goals. 

Defensively, the Captains put together another strong first half, holding Penn State Harrisburg to just 20 points on 26.7% shooting (8-30). Both teams were slow to start offensively, but the Captains' dominance on the offensive glass led to an early lead. CNU picked up 10 offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone, helping bolster what is ranked as the 8th best rebounding team in the nation on that end of the floor.

A three-point play from Fancher to Dufrene helped kickstart the Captains late in the opening quarter, opening up a 15-3 run that would stretch through the first few minutes of the second period. Dufrene finished on the fast-break, was fouled, and converted the free-throw to get the momentum moving in CNU's direction. After Tessa Dolce hit a free-throw for the Lions, Dufrene scored again with less than a minute to play. Then, on CNU's second possession of the second quarter, Fancher found Dufrene open for a three-pointer and the junior buried the try to extend the lead to 17-10. Fancher and Dufrene picked up back-to-back buckets, and then Makeda Wright whistled home a trey from the corner to get CNU out in front by 14, 24-10. 

The first-half lead would grow to as many as 18, when Jasmine Bonivel connected on a layup off an assist by Dufrene to make it 32-14 with 3:12 remaining. After the Lions closed on a small run, rookie Stephanie Seaman extended the lead back to 16 with a fast-break layup on the final possession to make the halftime score 36-20. 

In the second half, the CNU defense continued to clamp down throughout the third quarter, holding Penn State Harrisburg to just 12 points in the frame. Offensively, the ball was getting dished around the court, as CNu connected on 10 shots in the third quarter, with seven assists. Anitra Thomas caught fire as CNU pulled away, scoring nine points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting effort from long range.

After CNU pulled out to a 33-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the Lions offense started to move, and finished the final period with 25 points scored. The Captains were not threatened, and wrapped up the 18-point win, 75-57. 

The Captains hauled in 38 rebounds, led by nine from Jessica Daguilh, and seven out of rookie Micah Maloney. The CNU offense saw strong spurts from a number of different players, including six points on 3-for-3 shooting by Raven Lott, and six points by Bonivel, while adding a pair of assists. Only Tannor and Fancher played more than 18 minutes in the game, as CNU was able to extend the bench and cruise to the conference win. 

Penn State Harrisburg was led by Kaitlyn Carmo, with a double-double, as the senior finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Precious Shirk added 12 points off the bench, knocking down 5-of-9 attempts. 

Christopher Newport will now carry it's undefeated record into the second regular season test against nationally-ranked Mary Washington on Wednesday, February 1. The two top ten programs have just one loss combined, with the Captains capturing a tight win over the Eagles, 75-67, at home on January 18. Tip at Rosner Arena in Fredericksburg is set for 6:00 pm.