Postgame Press Conferences:  Christopher Newport  ||  Mount Saint Vincent

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fourth-ranked Christopher Newport women's basketball team made history on Friday night as part of a commanding win over the University of Mount Saint Vincent (22-7) in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship. The Captains set numerous postseason program records while registering their first ever NCAA Tournament 100-point performance at home on route to a dominant 104-52 win. 

CNU improved to 27-1 overall this season and reached the century mark for just the second time in 60 all-time NCAA Tournament games. The first came in a 107-52 win over Mount Saint Mary in the second round of the 2022 tournament and Friday's second, a 52-point win over Mount Saint Vincent, showcased the Captains' depth from start to finish. 

All 15 active players saw action in the game and 13 registered double-digit minute totals. All but one CNU player finished in the scoring column and seven Captains finished with eight points or more. Leading the way was sophomore Nicole Timko, appearing in her first ever NCAA Tournament game, posting a perfect 7-for-7 performance from the field including a 5-for-5 showing from long range for a career-high tying 21 points.

Also dominant from long range, senior Camille Malagar was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 14 points in 11 minutes played. Rounding out a trifecta of double-digit scorers was junior forward Hannah Kaloi, who scored 11 points in 10 minutes of action. 

While the shots were falling, it may well be attributed to excellent passing for the Captains in the opening round win. Christopher Newport shattered the teams' previous NCAA Tournament record for assists by combining for 31 helpers on 39 made baskets on Friday night. Gabbi San Diego led the way with six dimes without a turnover while Hailey Kellogg added five assists. Mia Wilson and Nicole Timko each had four assists while rookie tandem Caitlin Crump and Elizabeth Creed found open players for three apiece. 

It marked just the 12th 30-assist game in program history and the first to come in the postseason. Eleven different Captains registered at least one assist int he game while the offense was firing on all cylinders, hitting 52.0 percent (39-75) from the field in the game. The Captains were dangerous from deep, hitting 48.3 percent (14-29), led by the 9-for-9 combo of Malagar and Timko. Additionally, San Diego Kaloi, and Mia Wilson dropped in one apiece while sophomore McKenna Snively snapped the netting twice from long range. Christopher Newport matched its season high with 14 three-pointers and set a new postseason record by three, breaking the mark of 11 set against Mount Saint Mary on March 2, 2019. 

CNU led from wire-to-wire, bursting out to a 30-14 lead after the first ten minutes. The Captains extended to 55-27 at the break and added another 30-point quarter in the third to pull away for an 85-42 lead. Not letting up, the Captains finished out the win with 19 more in the final period to post the second-highest points in a postseason game in program history. 

The Captains earned the 54th consecutive home win while improving to 10-0 in the Freeman Center in NCAA Tournament games. CNU advanced to the second round for the 12th straight tournament showing and the 17th time in 24 all-time appearances. 

Christopher Newport will now face No. 17 Johns Hopkins (25-3) in the second round of the bracket with a berth to the Round of 16 on the line. The game will be played at the Freeman Center on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. with live stats and a live video webcast available at CNUsports.com.