NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Seventh-seeded Shenandoah University provided the first upset of the 2006 USA South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Tuesday night with a 64-61 win over No. 2 Christopher Newport University. 

Shenandoah (9-17) won for the first time ever in the Freeman Center as they forced CNU (19-7) into 28 turnovers. The Hornets scored 28 points off those turnovers as they led by as many as 16 points before holding on for the three-point win.  

The victory also snaps a 13-game SU losing streak to the Lady Captains. Coach Kathy Orsini's squad had not beaten Christopher Newport since they took an 84-68 decision in the 2000 conference tournament semi-finals. The win also bodes well for a possible championship run. In each of the Hornets previous two championship runs (1996 and 2000), they have beaten CNU on the way to the title. 

SU now will face No. 3 Ferrum, who eliminated sixth-seeded Averett with a 72-63 win in Ferrum Tuesday night. The Hornets and Lady Panthers will meet in Friday's 8:00 contest at CNU. 

With the score tied at 29-29 coming out of the halftime lockerroom, SU seized control of the game with a 17-6 run over the first 5:35 of the second. Shenandoah maintained this advantage for the remainder of the contest, eventually pushing the lead to 59-43 after Valerie Samplesnailed a jumper with 6:16 to play. 

But Christopher Newport wasn't finished. 

The Lady Captains scored 14 of the game's next 16 points over a span of 5:34 and trailed by just four, 61-57, with 24 seconds remaining. However, Shenandoah finally caught a break at crunch time – they converted three of four free throw opportunities before junior Cassie Womack iced the game with a steal at the three second mark. 

Junior Alicia Sanders continued her run to a possible 1000 points for her career with 15 points while Netagia Foreman added 11. Sanders now needs 26 points to become the 13th member of the women's basketball 1000 point club. 

Box Score/Play by Play