Jan. 22, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

CINCINNATI - Sophomore forward Amber Harris registered the 18^th double-double of her career with a 22-point, 15-rebound effort to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team to a 68-55 victory over Duquesne on Tuesday evening at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh.  With the win, Xavier improves to 13-6 on the year and 3-1 in Atlantic 10 play.  The Dukes slip to 10-9 overall, 1-3 in the loop. 

Harris' 22 points came on 8-of-14 shooting and she also blocked three shots and made six of her seven attempts from the free throw line.  Tuesday marked the 11^th time Harris has scored 20 or more points and the 41^st time she has scored in double-figures. 

Eight-time A-10 Rookie of the Week Ta'Shia Phillips posted her 11^th double-double (third in-a-row) with 15 points and 13 rebounds.  She also buried seven of her eight attempts from the charity stripe as the Musketeers shot a season-best 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the free throw line.   

Junior forward Tudy Reed was outstanding, scoring 13 point, snaring six rebounds while dishing-out four assists.  Xavier improved to 9-0 when three or more players score in double-figures. 

XU did turn the ball over 23 times but the Musketeers countered by holding the Dukes to a frigid 29.7 percent (19-of-64) from the floor.  XU also out-rebounded Duquesne by a 47-to-37 count and held a 28-to-18 edge in points in the paint. 

Duquesne trailed 34-27 at the break but came out with a purpose in the second half and tied the score at 44 on the strength of a 17-10 run over the first 9:30 of the second session.  It was nip and tuck for the next five minutes as the lead changed twice and the score was tied an additional five times.

However, Harris gave the Musketeers the lead for good with a turnaround jumper and sparked a decisive 15-0 run over the next 4:40 to take home the victory. 

Harris' lay-up was followed by a driving lay-up from Maureen Hester and an old-fashioned 3-point play by Reed.  Hester also capped the run with a 3-pointer in the corner to put the game away.   

Duquesne led 5-4 after Kristi Little converted on a runner but the Musketeers would clamp down defensively, holding the Dukes without a field goal for the next 8:20.  Xavier took advantage and stormed out to a 12-0 run over the next 4:50 to seize a commanding 17-4 lead at the 13:10 mark. 

Harris and Reed were the catalysts as the duo each scored five points during the stretch.

The Dukes would answer though and mounted a 9-0 run, shrinking the Xavier advantage to only four points midway through the first half. 

Xavier once again forced Duquesne into a scoring dry spell though, this time the drought was 4:20 as the XU lead bloated back to 10 points.  Little scored 15 of the Dukes' 27 first-half points and Jade Singleton made a lay-up as the first stanza expired, making the score 34-27 at the break. 

The Musketeers return to action on Saturday, January 26 when the team welcomes UMass to Cintas Center.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. 

Xavier Musketeers Women's Basketball

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