ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Led by one of the best performances in the career of senior Tia Perry, third-ranked Christopher Newport improved to 2-1 on the season with an 87-72 win at N.C. Wesleyan (1-2). Perry poured in 28 points and added 13 rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots as CNU powered past its former conference rivals with a 52.6 percent shooting night as a team.
The Captains held just a two-point edge at halftime 38-36 despite building a double-digit lead and hitting 57.1 percent of their shots in the opening stanza. CNU raced out to a 13-point lead less than six minutes into the game with a game-opening 18-5 run. Perry had six and sophomore Kendra Stone added five early points in the roll.
Momentum appeared on the side of the Bishops, but out of the locker room, Christopher Newport would assure itself the wire-to-wire victory with strong shooting from the free-throw line. In the first five and a half minutes of the second half, CNU would drop seven of its eight attempts from the line, including a pair of and-one opportunities from Andrea Hobbs and La'Shay Lucas.
A three-pointer from Tiffany Bell would cut the lead to three 51-48 with 14:30 remaining, but the Captains would then get on another run, scoring seven consecutive points and 10 of the next 12 to re-take a double-digit lead. Surging ahead by 11 with 10 minutes to go on a fast-break layup by Brandi Holland, the Captains woud not relinquish the double-figure lead again.
