Granderson and Harris Combine to Score 40 as Xavier Overwhelms Dayton, 80-52
Feb. 11, 2007
CINCINNATI - Nine-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Amber Harris recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds and senior guard Suntana Granderson added 19 points as the Xavier University women's basketball team trounced Dayton, 80-52, on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center. With the win, Xavier improves to 19-7 on the year and 7-3 in Atlantic 10 action. The Musketeers have now won nine consecutive games against the Flyers and have been victorious in 13 of the last 16 games vs. UD. The win also marked head coach Kevin McGuff's 99th at Xavier. His record now stands at 99-49 (.669) in his fifth year at XU. Harris' 21 came on 7-of-12 shooting and in only 28 minutes of action. The Indianapolis native also blocked five shots and posted two steals. Granderson was 6-of-12 from the floor including 2-of-5 from deep. Senior guard Michele Miller scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Xavier. The Musketeers are now 31-5 all-time when Miller scores in double-figures. Sophomore guard Jerri Taylor tied a career high with 11 points, was 4-of-5 from the field and nailed both of her attempts from long-range. Senior forward Joei Clyburn continued her solid play with eight points and seven rebounds. Dayton scored the first bucket one minute into the contest but it was all Xavier from there. The Musketeers stormed out to a dominating 31-9 run over the next 15:30 and took a 31-11 lead with 5:30 remaining in the first half. Harris was unstoppable in the first session, scoring 17 points including one of two first-half 3-pointers as the first stanza expired to give XU a 40-19 lead at the break. Harris scored eight consecutive points during a 1:20 stretch and also blocked four shots in the first 20-minutes. It was more of the same in the second half as Xavier opened up a 35-point lead, 80-45, after freshman guard Alesia Barringer nailed a long-ball with 2:10 to go in regulation. Xavier clamped down defensively, holding the Flyers to just 28.2 percent (20-of-71) shooting including 24.2 percent (8-of-33) in the first half. Xavier shot a solid 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field including a scorching 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from deep. The Musketeers held a 49-to-44 edge on the glass and out-scored UD 21-to-9 in points off turnovers. Xavier will hit the road for the final time this season when the Musketeers take on Richmond on Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Robins Center.
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