Feb. 4, 2007

Box Score | Post Game Notes

CINCINNATI - Senior forward Joei Clyburn scored 16 points, snared eight rebounds and notched an XU record eight blocks to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past La Salle, 75-64, on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center. With the win, Xavier improves to 17-7 on the year and 5-3 in Atlantic 10 play. The Explorers slip to 16-8 overall, 4-5 in the A-10.

Clyburn's 16 came on 5-of-10 shooting and her eight blocks eclipsed the previous school record of seven set by Carol Madsen in 1994 and Amber Harris on January 10 vs. Coppin State.

Senior point guard Miranda Green was also outstanding for Xavier. The Indianapolis native scored 12 points and was 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She tied a career high with eight rebounds while dishing-out eight assists against just a pair of turnovers.

Harris added 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Senior guard Suntana Granderson scored 11 points and was 3-of-5 from long-range. Two of those 3-pointers came during pivotal points in the second half.

Classmate Michele Miller hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds and was one point shy of a double-double. Miller also dished-out a pair of assists and had two steals.

XU trailed 38-33 at intermission but carried the momentum from a late first-half rally into the second half to take a 43-42 lead at the 17:30 mark on a Granderson 3-pointer in transition.

La Salle would rally though and sprinted out to a 10-3 run over the next 3:40 to take a 52-48 lead with 12:10 remaining in regulation. The lead was short lived as XU answered with a decisive 12-0 run over the next 5:30 to seize a 60-52 lead after Clyburn scored her sixth consecutive point.

La Salle would close to five points, 66-61, with three-minutes to go but another Granderson 3-pointer on the ensuing possession put to bed any thought of an Explorer comeback.

The Musketeers won the battle of the boards by a 39-to-36 count and out-rebounded the Explorers 26-to-18 in the second half. Xavier also took advantage down low, out-scoring La Salle by a convincing 34-to-14 margin in the paint.

XU also tied a school record with 13 blocked shots and held La Salle to 39 percent (23-for-59) shooting including a miserable 23.3 percent (7-for-30) in the second half.

Xavier once again had a tough time getting out of the gate and fell behind by 15 points, 34-19, after Carlene Hightower hit a turnaround jumper at the 6:20 mark.

XU would wake up though and answered with a 14-4 run over the final 6:20 and pulled to within five points, 38-33, at the break.

The run was keyed by eight points from Harris and Jerri Taylor sparked an 8-0 XU spurt with a 3-pointer at the 3:30 mark.

Xavier is back in action on Thursday, February 8 when the team travels back to the City of Brotherly Love for a showdown with Saint Joseph's. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse.