Jan. 6, 2006

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Senior forward Tara Boothe led four Musketeers in double-figures with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting as the Xavier University women's basketball team defeated Saint Louis 77-61 on Friday evening at Cintas Center. With the win, XU improves to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in Atlantic 10 play while the Billikens slip to 3-10 on the year, 0-2 in the loop.

The win marked Xavier's 18th in-a-row at Cintas Center and breaks the previous Xavier record for consecutive home victories.

Boothe's 22 points move her 88 points shy of breaking Jo Ann Osterkamp's all-time scoring record of 2,036 points.

Boothe also snared seven rebounds and hit her only 3-point field goal attempt in 27 minutes of action. Classmate Kristy Wallner put together a solid all-around game with six points, six assists and nine rebounds. Wallner was 3-of-4 from the floor and committed only one turnover.

Junior guard Suntana Granderson scored 15 points and dished-out four assists on Friday and classmate Miranda Green scored 14 points. Green was 2-of-3 from deep and dropped six dimes.

Freshman guard Jerri Taylor was the fourth Musketeer to post a double-digit scoring night with a career-high tying 11 points.

After taking a 38-22 lead at intermission, the Musketeers seized control of the contest with a 21-8 run to start the second half. XU's 21-8 run was capped off by a Jerri Taylor 3-pointer with 12:40 remaining in the game.

Taylor's 3-poiner gave XU its largest lead of the game, 59-30, with 12:40 to go.

XU shot a solid 50 percent (31-of-62) from the floor for the fifth time this season and was 9-of-18 from 3-point land. XU also held a 37-to-33 rebounding advantage on the night.

Xavier was especially careful with the ball on Friday as the team tied a season low by committing only seven turnovers. XU also dished-out 22 assists on the night.

Saint Louis chipped away at an early Xavier lead and trailed by only three points, 17-14, with 9:50 remaining in the first half.

The Billikens would mount a late charge and trailed by only 12 points, 70-58, at the two-minute mark. However, Taylor hit her third three of the game to squelch any hopes of a SLU rally.

The Musketeers would respond by ending the half on a 21-8 run and held a 38-22 lead at the break. Green sparked the Xavier run with a pair of 3-pointers and Boothe also scored six points during the spurt.

Xavier will be back in action on Sunday, January 8 when the team travels to the "Ocean State" to take on the Rams. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at URI's Ryan qCenter.