Newport News, VA – Taking a close game into the fourth quarter, again, with a nationally ranked opponent, East Texas Baptist University's effort was just shy of an upset over #3 Christopher Newport University, 52-45. It is the third straight nationally ranked opponent that ETBU has faced and CNU was the 2023 NCAA Division III National Runners-Up. ETBU is now 1-3 on the year.
 
CNU made 70% attempted (14-20) of their free throws while ETBU made 66.7% (10-15). Both teams didn't shoot real well as ETBU made just 26% of their shots and CNU 27%. ETBU made 31% of their three-pointers while CNU made 25% attempted (6-24). ETBU out rebounded CNU, 50-38, but had 21 turnovers that led to nine points.   
 
Michaela James led the team with nine points. Tristian Smith and Hannah Matthews led the team in rebounds, each having 10. Payton Hicks posted five assists.
 
The Tigers controlled the first period with the first points being scored on a layup by Matthews 2-0. CNU raised the score to 3-2 after a successful pthree-ointer. Two back-to-back layups from the Tiger's own James at 5:25 & Smith at 5:07 put the score at 6-3. The Captains stayed competitive with a successful three-pointer at 3:52 & a successful free throw at 3:06. The Tigers went on a run with a free throw Jayla Hall, a successful layup from Hannah Ayala at 1:48, and another by Hall at 00:29 seconds to close out the period up by four, 11-7.
 
The second period brought poor shooting by ETBU (12%) being out scored, 13-4. CNU brought the score to 16-11 with two successful layups and a three-point shot. Alexis Purcell, with a two pointer at 3:31 in the paint, brought ETBU within three, 16-13. The Captains moved their lead to seven, 20-13, in the next minute. Ayala scored the final points for the Tigers with a layup at 1:12 as ETBU trailed, 20-15, at the half.  
 
ETBU started the third period with two straight layups, the first from Matthews at 8:55 and the second from Tristian Smith at 8:20 to cut the lead to one, 20-19. The Captains widened their lead to eight, 27-19, with a three pointer and two jump shots. A layup from Hall at 4:08, followed by a three-pointer from CNU, and a three-pointer from Purcell brought put ETBU within six, 30-24. CNU finished out the period with a three-pointer and a rebound layup for score of 35-24 lead.

ETBU managed to outscore CNU in the final period, 21-17, but it was not enough as the lead the Captains had was enough to secure the win. The Tigers went a run scoring eight points with James making a three-pointer at 9:53, two successful free throws at 6:38, and a three-pointer at 6:14 from Ashlynn Galvin brought the score to 35-32. A good layup by CNU and a free throw by ETBU from Matthews brought the score to 37-33. The Captains made five free throws between 4:13-3:44 to push the score to nine points, 42-33. James made two free throws at 3:14 put the score at 42-35. It was not until 2:18 that ETBU scored any points with Sara Cowan making two free throws, as CNU made a successful three-pointer and a free throw to put the lead back at eight. Cowan made a three-pointer at 1:38, Hicks made a three-pointer at 00:33, and Tiffany Bickford added two free throws at 00:07. All Points by CNU from 1:49 to end of the game were made as free throws making a final score of 53-45.
 
The Tigers will travel to Claremont, Calif., to face the Claremont-Mudd-Scrips Athenas on November 24.