The Freeman Center crowd had barely settled into their seats when it became clear that No. 19 Christopher Newport Women’s Basketball was not interested in a slow start. After a cautious opening quarter that ended with CNU holding a slim 12–9 lead, the Captains flipped a switch, erupting for 33 second-quarter points and turning what had been a competitive contest into a statement win over Lehman College, 91–57.
The victory improved CNU to 15–3 on the season and kept them perfect at home, while also reinforcing why the Captains are one of the most disruptive defensive teams in the nation.
Lehman arrived in Newport News with a respectable 8–7 record and a strong road résumé, but CNU’s relentless pressure defense and overwhelming depth quickly exposed the mismatch. After both teams committed five turnovers in the opening quarter, CNU’s half-court and full-court press began to suffocate Lehman’s ball handlers in the second, producing a wave of steals that led directly to easy baskets. By halftime, the Captains had built a commanding 45–22 advantage.
“We just got back to what we needed to do to be successful,” head coach Bill Broderick said after the game. “We’ve started the season slower in first quarters, but once we settled in, we started playing harder and playing our style.”
That style is rooted in defensive pressure and forcing mistakes. CNU scored 31 points off Lehman’s 24 turnovers and added 15 second-chance points, consistently converting chaos into offense. The Captains also dominated the glass, finishing with 63 total rebounds compared to Lehman’s 39, including 30 on the offensive end.
Offensively, CNU was efficient and unselfish, knocking down 12 three-pointers and shooting nearly 38 percent from the field as a team. Madison McKenzie led the way with 16 points while adding two assists and three steals, continuing her strong season as one of the Captains’ most consistent scorers. Caitlin Crump caught fire from deep, draining four three-pointers on her way to 16 points, while Hailey Kellogg orchestrated the offense with 17 points and four assists.
McKenzie credited the team’s composure and accountability for the decisive second-quarter surge.
“We really came together and held each other accountable,” she said. “Hailey kept us in the right spots, Caitlin had a hot hand, and everyone else did their job. That second quarter really showed our culture.”
Lehman showed resilience in the third quarter behind the aggressive play of Heaven Figueroa, who sparked a brief run that cut into the deficit. But each time the Lightning gained momentum, CNU responded with timely post buckets, defensive stops, and another wave of transition points to keep the lead firmly in double digits. The Captains entered the fourth quarter ahead 63–46 before slamming the door with a 28-point final period.
For Broderick, the game was another step toward what he hopes will be a February peak.
“We do not worry about expectations,” he said. “We take it game by game. We are always the hunted, and we just want to be at our best when the conference tournament comes.”
With conference rival Salisbury up next, both Broderick and McKenzie had a simple message for the CNU community.
“Everybody pull up,” McKenzie said with a smile. “It should be a great game.”
After a performance like this, the Captains gave Freeman Center fans every reason to believe the hunt for another championship is very much on course.
