NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The eighth-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team moved back into a tie for first place atop the Capital Athletic Conference standings on Saturday, following a dominating defensive effort against Wesley College (7-16, 3-13). The Captains (21-2, 14-2) held the Wolverines to just 32 points, including only 11 in the second half, en route to a convincing 66-32 victory at home.

The win, accompanied by a Mary Washington loss, moved CNU back into a tie for the league lead, with just two games remaining. Marymount University, who also won on Saturday, remains just one game behind the Eagles and Captains, with a matchup against Mary Washington slated for Wednesday. 

For the Captains, it was another trademark game in which the offense was balanced from top to bottom and the defense put together yet another suffocating effort. CNU had just one player in double figures, and 14 different Captains ended up in the scoring column after all 18 players dressed saw action. 

Perhaps the most thrilling points in the contest came just a minute and a half in, when senior Taylor Delgado buried a three-pointer from the wing for CNU's first points of the game. The crowd erupted following the trey, as Delgado was suiting up for the first time since her freshman year after knee injuries forced her to the sideline for most of her career. 

A first half 19-4 run saw CNU take over the lead and never look back. The Captains led by 11 with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter, capped by a pair of free-throws and a layup by Jessica Daguilh to start the stanza. Heading into halftime, the Captains built the lead to as much as 17 in the second quarter before carrying a 13-point edge into the break, 34-21. 

While the defense was terrific in the first half, forcing 14 turnovers, it revved up to an exceptional standard after the intermission. After allowing just six points in the third, the Captains gave up just five points in the final quarter. It was the fifth time in the two seasons since the NCAA shifted women's basketball into four quarters that the Captains held a team to five points or fewer in a quarter. On Saturday, CNU held the Wolverines to just 1-of-7 shooting in the fourth, while forcing 12 turnovers. 

On the other side of the ball, the Captains shot 48% (12-25) in the second half, with a well-balanced grouping from the entire roster. Rookie Stephanie Seaman hit a pair of three-pointers, and freshman Hannah MacDonald added a triple as well. Sophomore Zhara Tannor was stellar at the charity stripe (7-8) and finished with nine points off the bench, while Madison Howdyshell had seven points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes of action. 

CNU's other senior, Savannah Melvin, made the start in one of the front court spots and finished the game with one rebound, an assist, and a steal. 

For the game, the Captains held Wesley to just over 24% shooting (11-45), including a 7% effort from long range (1-14). Coming into Saturday's game, the Captains ranked third nationally in three-point shooting defense. CNU forced 31 turnovers and grabbed 16 steals. Tannor led the way with four steals, while Seaman added three. 

Christopher Newport is back in action on Wednesday, February 15, traveling to Southern Virginia University. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 pm in Buena Vista, Va.