Feb. 12, 2006

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Senior forward Tara Boothe scored 18 points, all in the second half, to lead four Musketeers in double-figures as the Xavier University women's basketball team downed La Salle 70-62 on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. With the win, XU improves to 17-7 on the year and 8-5 in Atlantic 10 play. La Salle slips to 11-12 overall, 7-5 in the loop.

The win was XU's fifth in-a-row on the road and marks only the second time this year XU has taken home a victory on a Sunday (2-5).

Boothe's 18 came on 7-of-18 shooting including a 7-of-11 performance in the second half. Boothe also hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds and she is now 28 shy of breaking XU's all-time rebounding mark.

Junior guard Suntana Granderson added 16 and was a sizzling 5-of-10 from long-range. Granderson also snared seven rebounds. Classmates Michele Miller and Miranda Green added 14 and 13 points respectively.

Xavier built a 26-23 lead at the half but La Salle quickly tied the game at 16 when Jenna Graber connected on a 3-pointer in the half's second minute. The Musketeers would respond though and seized control of the contest with a 15-2 run over the next seven minutes.

The decisive run was keyed by seven consecutive points by Boothe, who did not score in the first half, and was capped by a Granderson 3-pointer. That three-ball gave XU a 41-28 lead.

La Salle would rally, closing to within six points with 15-seconds remaining. But it was too little too late as Xavier held the Explorers at bay with free throws down the stretch.

XU held a 40-32 edge on the boards including a 34-29 advantage on the offensive glass.

Wallner gave Xavier a 3-2 lead at the 18:20 mark but Xavier would be unable to score for the next 5:40, allowing La Salle to take a 12-3 lead at the 13:10 mark. La Salle's early run was keyed by eight points from Carlene Hightower.

The Musketeers would regroup though and knotted the game up at 19 when Granderson nailed a 3-pointer at 4:10. She would knock another three-ball down 1:30 later to give Xavier a 22-19 lead.

XU kept La Salle at bay for the remainder of the first half and took a 26-23 lead into the locker room.

The Musketeers will return to action on Friday, February 17 when the team returns home to take on UMass. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Cintas Center.