NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team suffered its first home loss of the season on Wednesday night, falling to Marymount University (18-4, 12-3) by a final score of 62-48. The Captains (20-2, 13-2) slip into second place in the league standings, and now hold just a one-game edge over the Saints for third. 

Facing one of the top scoring defenses in the nation, the Captains struggled to find a rhythm offensively against Marymount on Wednesday night. The Saints, who rank 15th nationally in scoring defense with 50.2 points per game, held the league-leading Captains offense to a season-low 48 points. 

Both teams settled into a groove defensively in the first quarter, forcing a combined 11 turnovers in the first quarter while neither team managed to pull away. After a layup by Jessica Daguilh gave CNU an 8-6 advantage with 4:55 remaining in the first, the Saints would close the quarter on an 8-3 run to take a modest 14-11 lead into the second frame. 

At the start of the second, the Saints took control offensively, opening the stanza on a 15-2 run to break open a 16-point lead against the Captains, 29-13. Marymount's Lauryn Stouffer led the way in the roll, scoring six points, all off assists from Leah Hurst. Held to just two points for almost seven minutes in the quarter, the Captains regained some momentum when Sam Porter converted on a fast-break layup off a long assist by Zhara Tannor. CNU closed the half on a small 8-0 run to pull back within eight at the buzzer, 29-21. Bailey Dufrene connected on a jumper as the horn went off to send CNU off. 

For the first five minutes of the second half, the defenses took over again, forcing six more turnovers between the two teams. After Kiki Laux pulled the Saints ahead by 10 with 5:24 remaining in the third, 33-23, the Captains got back-to-back three-pointers to pull back within four. First, Dufrene connected on a long three off an assist by Anitra Thomas, followed by a shot-clock buzzer-beating triple by Jasmine Bonivel with 4:18 remaining.

The four-point edge was the closest CNU had been since early in the second quarter, but a quick response to end the half was enough for Marymount to settle back into a big lead. Bonivel's three was the last bucket of the frame for CNU, and the Saints closed the final four minutes on a 12-0 run. A three-pointer by Marymount's Tyffani McQueen to start the final quarter gave the Saints a game-high 19-point lead, 48-29. CNU answered with its finest offensive quarter of the game, going 8-for-12 from the floor in the final 10 minutes, but was unable to close the gap on the Saints. 

Marymount snapped an 11-game home winning streak for the Captains, which ranked as the fifth longest winning streak in Freeman Center history. For the game, three Saints finished in double figures, with all three scoring 13 points (Kiki Laux, Nicole Viscuso, Regan Lohr). Lohr added five steals and five rebounds for the Saints. 

CNU was led by Dufrene with 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists. Sam Porter was the only other Captain in double figures, scoring 10 points while adding six steals and five rebounds. With the six steals, Porter now has eight games this season with five or more thefts, and has set a new career high for steals in a season with 86. 

Christopher Newport will try to shake off their second loss of the season with a quick turnaround this Saturday, February 11, as the Captains host Wesley College for the final home regular season game of the season. Tip off for Senior Day is set for 2:00 pm against the Wolverines.