Women's Basketball Captures USA South Title, Downs Ferrum, 77-53

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport's women's basketball team captured the USA South Conference Tournament championship Saturday afternoon as the Lady Captains knocked off top-seed Ferrum, 77-53.

It's the third time under Head Coach Carolyn Hunter that CNU has won the conference tournament title and the fourth time in her nine seasons she has led her squad to the NCAA Tournament. It's also the seventh time in program history that the Lady Captains have won the conference tournament.

It was a close game for much of the first half, as neither team led by more than five points until a late burst gave CNU a 28-20 lead with 4:04 left on Krystal Vest's free throw. Less than three minutes later, the Lady Captains would lead by 10, 32-22, with 1:58 to play on Samantha Davis' lay-up. Christopher Newport would lead by nine, 37-28, at the half.

In the second half, the Lady Captains stepped up their defense and held the Panthers to just 8-of-30 (27%) shooting from the field, 2-of-4 from behind the arc and 7-of-11 (64%) from the stripe.

Christopher Newport also shot very well from the floor, finishing 11-of-25 (44%) from the field. But even better, the Lady Captains were 18-of-20 (90%) from the free throw line alone in the second half. CNU led by as many as 28 in the second half when Davis's lay-up with 3:34 to go put her team on top, 70-42.

For the game, FC finished 18-of-53 (34%) from the field, 4-of-9 (44%) from long range and 13-of-20 (65%) from the charity stripe. The Lady Captains were 22-of-55 (40%) from the floor, 0-of-5 from downtown and 33-of-38 (87%) from the free throw line.

Miranda Carrasco led the Panthers with 14 points off the bench. Ashley Norton finished with 12 points.

Dee Luck led Christopher Newport with 15 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and nine blocks. She was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Samantha Davis finished with 13 points while Nikki Rowland and Candace Bryant added 10 points each. Bryant also grabbed eight rebounds and became just the second player in program history to score 1,000 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds.

Luck was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Ferrum's Norton, CNU's Rowland and Bryant, Shenandoah's Alexis Hargbol and Greensboro Staci Humphrey.

The Panthers fall to 21-7 overall while the Lady Captains improve to 20-8. CNU will find out Monday morning who and where they will play in the NCAA Tournament. Check the CNU Athletics web page for all the details.

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