Jan. 19, 2006

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Senior All-American candidate Tara Boothe posted her fourth double-double in the last six games with 25 points and 13 rebounds and junior guard Suntana Granderson added 18 points to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past Dayton, 87-70, on Thursday evening at UD Arena.

With the win, XU improves to 12-5 on the year and a level 3-3 in Atlantic 10 play. Dayton slips to 12-5 overall, 3-2 in the loop.

Boothe's 25 came on 9-of-20 shooting and she also had two blocks on the night. Granderson made only one of her first 11 shots but finished 7-of-19 from the floor and was 4-of-7 from deep.

Junior guard Michele Miller broke out of a mini-slump to score 12 points and haul in eight rebounds. She was 3-of-4 from the field. Classmate Miranda Green continued her stellar play against the Flyers, scoring 10 points, chasing down five rebounds

UD outscored Xavier 12-6 over the final 3:30 of the first half and trailed by only six, 40-34, at the half. However, Xavier began the half on a 15-4 run and seized a commanding 54-38 lead just 3:30 into the final session.

Dayton would be unable to pull any closer than 13-points the rest of the way as Xavier cruised to the victory.

The Musketeers snared a season-high 51 rebounds and out-rebounded the Flyers 51-to-49 on the night, including 34-to-27 on the defensive glass.

After a cold-shooting first half, XU heated up to shoot 48.3 percent in the second half and made 16-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Boothe came out and scored Xavier's first 12 points of the game but the Musketeers trailed 13-12 with 11:50 remaining after Jennifer Strong hit a 3-pointer.

Bingham answered with a 3-pointer just 25-seconds later to spark a 15-4 Xavier run over the next 3:40 and XU took its largest lead of the game, 30-17, with 7:40 to go in the first stanza.

Dayton would battle back though and Xavier went into the locker room with a 40-34 lead.

The Musketeers return to action on Sunday, January 22 when they take on No. 20 Temple. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.