Captain hoopsters earn doubleheader sweep of Bishops

Rocky Mount, NC - In Wednesday's USA South basketball action, Christopher Newport University earned a doubleheader sweep of homestanding North Carolina Wesleyan in front of a spirited Everett Gymnasium crowd. The Lady Captains began the evening with a 75-61 victory, while the Captain men concluded the night with a 77-69 win.

In the women's game, the two teams played even through the first five minutes as the Captains led, 7-6. CNU scored six of the next eight points to lead by five, 13-8, and later took a double digit lead at 31-21 with 6:35 left in the period. CNU went on to lead 41-27 at the break.

The Captains maintained a double digit lead throughout the second half, going up by as many as 18 points on several occasions. The Bishops got no closer than 11 points with two minutes remaining.

NC Wesleyan finished 24-of-66 (36%) from the field, 4-of-16 (25%) from long range and 9-of-14 (64%) from the free throw line. Essence Chambers led all scorers with a career-high 32 points on 13-of-28 shooting, including 2-of-6 from behind the arc and 4-of-7 from the line. She also had six steals, four rebounds and four assists. Meredith Mills finished with nine points.

The Captains were 28-of-50 (56%) from the floor, 3-of-8 (38%) on three-point attempts, and 16-of-23 (70%) from the stripe. Chelsie Schweers paced Christopher Newport with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc and 3-of-3 from the line.

With the loss, the Bishop women fall to 5-16 overall and 3-11 in USA South play. CNU improves to 16-5 overall and 11-3 in conference action.

On the men's side, it was an intense first half as the Bishops and Captains came out firing on all cylinders. CNU led early by four, 12-8, but NCWC drilled a three-pointer to cut the lead to one with 16:19 left in the period.

The Captains led by five, 23-18, with 11:27 left and Bishops responded by going on an 8-0 run to take a three-point lead, 26-23, at the 10:04 mark. CNU countered with an 8-0 run of its own to re-take the lead, 31-26, with 5:35 left.  The Bishops cut the lead to one several times, but Christopher Newport took a five-point lead, 43-38, into the locker room at the break.

The second half saw the two teams combine for 14 lead changes. Wesleyan started the half on a 7-4 run to take a one point lead with 17:32 left in the game only to see CNU scored five straight to re-take the lead by four. The Bishops once again took a one-point lead, 56-55, with 10:52 left.

A 16-8 CNU run gave the Captains their largest lead of the game to that point, 71-64, with 3:26 to go.  NCWC pulled to within four with 1:20 to go, but that would be as close as they would get.

The Bishops finished 25-of-75 (33%) from the field, 6-of-30 (20%) from behind the arc and 13-of-20 (65%) from the free throw line. Adam Coleman led Wesleyan with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jarmel Arrington finished with nine.

Christopher Newport finished 26-of-58 (45%) from the floor, 6-of-16 (38%) from long range and 19-of-31 (61%) from the charity stripe. Davon Barton led four CNU players in double figures with 16 points and six assists. Thomas Whinnett finished with 15 points and seven boards.

NCWC falls to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in USA South play. The Captains are also 14-7 but are 7-1 in the conference.

Wesleyan’s men and women return to action at on Saturday when they travel to Greensboro College. The women will tip off at 2:00 p.m. followed by the men at 4:00 p.m.
 

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