SALISBURY, Md. -- Christopher Newport led by as many as 17 in the second half on route to a 63-57 win over Salisbury University on Saturday afternoon, improving to 16-0 overall. The second-ranked Captains established a new Christopher Newport Athletics record for consecutive wins by any sport with the program's 33rd straight victory. 

The CNU defense held Salisbury to just 22 first-half points while opening up a double-digit lead against the Sea Gulls. The home team clawed back to within four in the final quarter, but rebounding and key free-throw shooting for the Captains held off the comeback attempt. 

With the win, the CNU women's basketball team has now won 33 straight games dating back to late December of the 2019-20 season. It is now the longest roll in any sport in CNU Athletics history, passing the 2012 CNU Volleyball program's 32-game streak. It is just the third time in the history of CNU Athletics that a team has won 30 or more games in a row with women's basketball boasting two of the three runs. 

Leading the way, junior forward Anaya Simmons logged her second double-double of the season with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Sondra Fan, with 14, and senior forward Natalie Terwilliger, with 11 points and eight rebounds. 

After an early back-and-forth that saw Salisbury take a 7-6 lead, the Captains posted a 15-5 run into the start of the second quarter to open up a nine-point lead, 21-12. The Sea Gulls attempted to right the ship and closed back to within seven, but a 6-0 roll at the end of the half gave the Captains a 35-22 lead at the break. Simmons, Fan, and Gabbi San Diego each had buckets in the final three minutes to put CNU ahead by double-digits. 

Through the third quarter, the Christopher Newport defense continued to stifle the Salisbury attack, allowing just 11 points in the period. The CNU offense increased the lead to 17 at 49-32 when Sondra Fan finished a tough layup and added a free-throw late in the quarter. 

In the fourth, seniors Kylie Webb and Jada Welbon put the Sea Gulls on their shoulders to try and upset the Captains. Webb hit a pair of three-pointers and Welbon was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to lead the team with 10 points in the quarter. Simmons caught fire for the Captains, however, holding off Salisbury with nine points to lead CNU. 

As a team, Christopher Newport shot 45.5% from the field (25-55) while holding Salisbury to just 33.3% (20-60). The Captains forced 19 turnovers with 10 steals while also blocking five shots. Natalie Terwilliger led the defense down low with three swats while Simmons and Fan each had three steals for CNU. 

For the first time since December 12, the Christopher Newport women's basketball team will return home to tplay in the Freeman Center next weekend against Mary Washington. CNU will tip off against the Eagles at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 29 in the first of just two remaining home games for the Captains. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.