Nov. 18, 2006

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Freshman sensation Amber Harris poured in a career-high 29 points and senior guard Michele Miller recorded her first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Xavier University women's basketball team defeated Loyola Marymount by a 75-65 count in the championship game of the 2006 National City Xavier Invitational.

With the win, Xavier improves to 3-0 on the season while LMU slips to 1-2.

Xavier wins its fifth National City Xavier Invitational in six tries and is now 11-1 all-time in the event. Harris' 28 points are the most ever scored during the National City Xavier Invitational. Kate Kreager held the previous record with 27 points vs. Toledo during the 2002 tournament.

The 28 points also marks the second-highest total ever for a Xavier freshman. Tara Boothe scored 31 vs. George Washington during the 2002-03 season.

Harris was honored as the Tournament's Most Valuable Player while Miller was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Joining Miller on the All-Tournament team were Amanda DeCoud (LMU), Danielle Bishop (Toledo) and Chevon Keith (Western Carolina).

Harris also contributed five blocks and three steals on the night while shooting 12-of-18 from the field. Miller was a solid 8-of-10 from the free throw line and dished-out four assists.

Senior guard Miranda Green was rock-solid at the point, scoring nine points and dropping five dimes while turning the ball over only twice in 38 minutes of action. Senior guard Suntana Granderson scored 14 points and connected on her 202nd career 3-pointer.

Xavier built a 30-27 lead at the half but LMU started the second session on a 9-2 run and took a 36-32 lead with 16:30 remaining in regulation. XU would answer though and charged out to a 7-0 run over the next 1:10 to take a 39-36 edge. Harris keyed the XU run with five points.

Loyola would not go away though, tying the score three more times and trailing by only five, 64-59, with 3:51 left after Amanda Patton drilled her fourth 3-pointer of the game.

However, Xavier put the game away over the next 2:50 with a 10-2 run. Xavier went 8-for-10 from the charity stripe during that stretch to ice the game.

XU held a 37-to-34 advantage on the boards including a 30-to-23 edge on the offensive glass. XU had a solid shooting night, going 25-for-51 (49 percent) from the field including 12-of-22 (54.5 percent) in the second stanza.

The Musketeers were also stingy on the defensive end, holding the Lions to 34.4 percent shooting including 28.6 percent in the first half.

Xavier returns to action on Thursday, November 23 when the team travels to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to take on Auburn in the 2006 Paradise Jam. Game time is set for 5:30 EST and fans can follow the action via live internet radio broadcast on GOXAVIER.com with Trevor Cole and Mike Schmaltz on the call.