March 3, 2007

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CINCINNATI - Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Amber Harris poured in a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting and had three steals in the game's final three minutes to lead the No. 3 seed Xavier University women's basketball team past No. 11 Saint Louis, 64-63, in A-10 Tournament Quarterfinal action on Saturday at Cintas Center. With the win, Xavier's eighth straight, the Musketeers improve to 24-7 on the year. The Billikens conclude the season with a 13-17 mark.

Xavier advances to the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Championship for the eighth time in the last 10 years and will square-off against No. 2 seed Temple on Sunday. Game time is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally by CSTV. The Xavier vs. Temple game will be preceded by a showdown featuring No. 1 seed George Washington vs. No. 5 seed Saint Joseph's. That game will tip at 12 p.m.

After trailing SLU for the entire second half, XU found itself behind 62-55 with 4:10 to go after Tyler McIlwraith buried a pair of free throws. Xavier would answer the bell though and closed the game out on a 9-1 run to squeak by SLU.

Senior guard Suntana Granderson, an All-Conference Second Team pick, converted on a driving lay-up 20-seconds later and senior guard Miranda Green made a free throw at the 3:30 mark, closing the deficit to 62-58. After Saint Louis made one of two free throws, Harris drained both of her attempts on XU's ensuing possession and then pulled XU to within a point, 63-62, when she grabbed an offensive rebound and made the lay-up with 2:30 remaining.

After another defensive stop by the Musketeers, senior guard Michele Miller was fouled and made both of her attempts from the charity stripe to give XU a 64-63 lead it would not relinquish at the 2:10 mark.

Harris posted two steals in the last 1:46 but the Musketeers missed a jumper and then misfired on a couple free throws to put SLU in position for the upset. Katie Paganelli missed two shots in the final eight seconds, allowing XU to escape with the win.

Harris was also 6-of-7 from the free throw line, led XU with six rebounds and posted three blocks and four steals.

Granderson scored 13 points and chased down six boards. Senior Sixth Player of the Year honoree Joei Clyburn scored 10 points and swatted a pair of shots.

Xavier was beaten up on the glass by the Billikens as SLU out-rebounded the Musketeers by a season-worst margin of 49-to-30. SLU took advantage and held a commanding 29-to-13 advantage in second chance points.

XU shot just 37.7 percent including a frigid 18.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The Musketeers did take care of the ball though, committing only nine turnovers on the night. Saint Louis turned it over 18 times, allowing XU to hold a 19-to-6 edge in points off turnovers.