ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The 14th-ranked CNU women's basketball team looks to bounce back after their first loss of the season on Thursday night as they travel to North Carolina Wesleyan College (1-5) for a 6:00 pm tip against the Battling Bishops. The Captains (6-1) return to the hardwood ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Top 25 and No. 16 according to the D3hoops.com national rankings. 

Christopher Newport opened the season with six straight wins before suffering a 68-62 setback to nationally-ranked Messiah last Saturday afternoon. N.C. Wesleyan is looking to end a four-game skid after splitting their first two matchups of the year. 

Former league rivals in the USA South Athletic Conference, the Captains will be taking on a familiar foe on Thursday night as they face N.C. Wesleyan for the 81st time in the all-time series. CNU has won five straight and owns a 64-16 advantage in the matchup as CNU has only played Greensboro College and Methodist University more often. 

Live stats will be available of the action with the link found at CNUsports.com. 

Junior Kiana Kirkland continues to lead the team offensively after a career-high 21 points against the Falcons; she is now averaging a team-best 12.6 points per game while also ranking third on the team in steals. Rookie Natalie Terwilliger has registered four double-doubles in her first seven career games and ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding with 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Senior Jessica Daguilh is also pouring in 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the well-balanced offense, which features six players averaging at least 6.0 points per game. 

As a team, the Captains defense leads the nation in steals with 135 thefts while also ranking fourth nationally in turnovers forced per game (31.14). 

Like the Captains, N.C. Wesleyan features a balanced attack with six players averaging 7.3 points per game or more, but not one Bishop in double figures yet this seasn. Senior guard Nadiya Holley leads the way with 9.5 points per game while also grabbing 7.8 boards per contest. Senior guard Daijah Davis is averaging a team-high 31.3 minutes per game and has didshed 2.7 assists per contest while scoring 8.0 points per game. 

Following the non-conference action, the Captains schedule will take a break until Sunday, December 16 when they host William Peace University at 2:00 pm for the final game before the holiday break. The 10-day gap will allow the CNU student-athletes to focus on final exams next week.