Dec. 7, 2006

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Suntana Granderson scored a career-high 30 points but XU could not overcome a season-high 23 turnovers as the Xavier University women's basketball team dropped a 73-66 overtime decision at Penn State on Thursday evening in State College, Pa. With the loss, Xavier falls to 6-3 on the season, while the Lady Lions improve to 6-5.

Granderson was outstanding, as her 30 points came on 13-of-17 shooting. Senior guard Michele Miller scored 11 points and snared seven rebounds and freshman forward Amber Harris scored 10 points (all in the first half), hauled in nine rebounds and added three blocks.

Senior forward Joei Clyburn scored eight points, snatched nine rebounds and dished-out six assists.

Penn State built a lead midway through first half after the Lady Lions sprinted out to an 8-0 run and seized a 46-38 lead with 9:10 to go. Amanda Brown scored six points during the spurt.

The Musketeers were unable to mount a rally until the final two minutes of the contest.

XU trailed by six points, 62-56, after Tyra Grant drained a pull-up jumper with 2:30 to go but a Granderson driving lay-up twenty seconds later and a pair of Miranda Green free throws drew the score to 62-60 with 50-seconds left.

The Musketeers forced a turnover on the ensuing possession and Clyburn converted on a fast break lay up to knot the score up at 62. XU then got a big defensive stop on Penn State's next possession to send the game into OT.

A pair of big 3-pointers by Adrienne Squire, including one with 1:20 to go in the extra session decided Xavier's fate.

XU won the battle of the boards by a 39-to-37 count but the Musketeers were out-rebounded 14-to-7 on the offensive glass. Penn State took advantage of 23 Xavier turnovers, converting the miscues into 25 points.

Brown led the way for Penn State with 29 points and 15 rebounds.

The first half was a back-and-forth battle, featuring nine ties and an astounding 11 lead changes. XU took its largest lead of the half, 17-13, on the strength of a 5-0 spurt that was capped by a Harris turnaround jumper at the 10:10 mark.

The Lady Lions ended the half on a 6-1 mini-run and headed into the locker room leading by a 29-28 count.

The Musketeers will return to action on Sunday, December 10 when the team welcomes defending MEAC champion Coppin State to Cintas Center. Game time is set for 2 p.m.