OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson women's basketball faced their toughest challenge so far this year at the end of finals week against the No. 3-ranked Christopher Newport University Captains in Owings Mills gymnasium on Dec. 16. The game ended in a 94-58 win for the Captains.
 
The Mustangs found and early pace, scoring six points in the first few minutes of the opening quarter. Junior forward Stephenae Lawrence got an early opportunity with a layup with 5:39 remaining. As the Captains increased their lead to 13 points about halfway in, first-year center Amanda Nwankwo brought the Mustangs to 10 points at 4:48 remaining. Nwankwo scored twice more as the Captains found their pace, scoring 25 points to the Mustangs' 17.
 
The Captains managed early scoring in the second quarter, getting to 30 points while the Mustangs pushed for 20 with a jumper from sophomore guard Erin Dixon less than 30 seconds into play. Sophomore forward Tessa Boswell added a three pointer at 7:26 on the clock. The Mustangs found three separate free-throw opportunities, but the halftime score was 55-26 in the Captains' favor.
 
In the third quarter, junior guard Emori Jeselskis secured a 3-pointer 45 seconds in, and the Mustangs surpassed 30 points with a jumper from sophomore forward Aliyah Jean-Jacques at 5:43 on the clock. Nwankwo quickly had three more opportunities followed by a jumper from Dixon with 38 seconds remaining. At the end of the third, the Mustangs trailed 79-44.
 
Stevenson saw a layup from Nwankwo at 5:41 in the fourth, and two opportunities from first-year guard Amoni Taylor brought the team to 50 points. Taylor followed with a 3-pointer at 2:50 remaining. She saw one more jumper as the Captains hit 90 points. First-year guard Korai Bowen had one last 3-pointer at 32 seconds remaining before the final 94-58 decision.
 
Nwankwo led the team in points with 17 and three rebounds and two blocks. Dixon added 11 points, three rebounds, and a steal. Lawrence added seven points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
 
The Mustangs will hit the road next before the holidays as they travel to Salisbury University on Wednesday, December 20, for a 4 p.m. game.