Jan. 26, 2007

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Freshman forward Amber Harris scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past Duquesne by a 59-44 score on Friday evening at Cintas Center. With the win, Xavier improves to 15-6 on the year and 3-2 in Atlantic 10 play. The Dukes slip to 7-11, 2-3.

Senior guard Michele Miller was the only other Musketeer in double-figures with 10 points. Miller was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. XU is now 30-5 all-time when Miller scores in double-figures.

Harris' 16 came on 8-of-15 shooting and she also blocked three shots. The double-double was her fifth this season.

Senior guard Suntana Granderson scored eight points and moved into 12th place on Xavier's all-time scoring list with 1,347 career points.

Duquesne trailed 23-20 at the break but reclaimed a 33-31 lead with 12:10 remaining in regulation. Miller answered with a pair of free-throws on XU's ensuing possession and she sparked an overwhelming 20-4 run over the next 8:10 as the Musketeers sprinted out to a 51-37 lead at the five-minute mark and never looked back.

Harris keyed the run with six points and Miller capped the spurt with another pair of free throws.

XU shot a frigid 23.7 percent (9-of-38) from the floor in the first half but evened things out with a 55.6 percent effort (15-of-27) in the second stanza. Xavier won the battle of the boards by a 46-to-32 count and held a convincing 20-to-11 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Musketeer bench provided a spark against Duquesne, out-scoring the Dukes' reserves 18-3 on the night.

The Musketeers stumbled out of the gate and trailed 18-10 after Loui Hall converted on a lay-up at the 7:30 mark.

Xavier recovered though and held Duquesne to just one field goal for the remainder of the half and used a 13-2 run to take a 23-20 lead into the locker room.

XU is back in action on Sunday, January 28 when the team squares-off against St. Bonaventure. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Cintas Center.