Jan. 8, 2006

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - URI's Safi Mojidi sunk a running 17-footer as time expired as the Xavier University women's basketball team fell 68-66 to Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. With the loss, XU slips to 10-4 on the year and 1-2 in Atlantic 10 Conference action. URI improves to 4-9 overall, 1-1 in the loop.

Xavier took a 66-64 lead with 1:20 left in regulation after Tara Boothe hit one of two free throws.

On XU's next offensive possession, Mojidi stole the ball at the top of the key and converted it into a fast break lay-up, tying the game at 66 with 40 ticks remaining.

Xavier missed the front end of a 1-and-1 on its next possession setting up Mojidi's buzzer-beating heroics.

Boothe finished with 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Miranda Green added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep. Kristy Wallner was point shy of double-double, hauling in 10 boards.

Suntana Granderson scored eight points and recorded five rebounds but was just 2-of-12 from the field. Granderson failed to score in double-figures for the first time this season.

Mojidi was outstanding for URI, scoring 29 points while dishing-out eight assists. Mojidi was 12-of-20 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep.

XU shot just 41 percent from the floor while URI shot a sizzling 60.6 percent in the second half.

Xavier did win the battle of the boards by a 44-to-33 margin and had a 17-to-10 edge on the offensive glass.

After leading 27-24 at the half, URI would battle back and the first 9:50 of the second half saw two ties and 10 lead changes.

Xavier would respond though and mounted an 11-0 run to take a 52-44 lead with 9:40 remaining in regulation.

Xavier took the lead for the remainder of the first half when Green drove the lane and converted on a lay-up with 11:20 to go. XU would extend its lead out to eight points, 23-15, when Jerri Taylor sunk a 3-pointer at the 4:30 mark.

URI would chip away at the lead though and shrunk the deficit to three points, 27-24, when Mia Marcus sunk a floater as the first half expired to cap off a 7-2 URI spurt.

Xavier will be back in action on Friday, January 13 when the team welcomes Richmond to Cintas Center. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m. at Cintas Center as XU will feature its second annual Youth Day.