Dec. 16, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

CINCINNATI - Junior guard Jerri Taylor led three Musketeers in double-figures with 24 points to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past East Tennessee State by a 76-67 score on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center.  With the win, XU snaps a two-game losing streak and improves to 6-4 on the season while the Lady Bucs slip to 4-5. 

Taylor's 24 came on 8-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-9 from the 3-point arc.  She also chased down a season-high five rebounds on the afternoon.  Sophomore forward Amber Harris added 21 points and was 9-of-15 from the floor.  She dished-out a career-high five assists and also snared six rebounds for the Musketeers. 

Four-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week selection Ta'Shia Phillips recorded her sixth double-double of the year with 17 points and 12 rebounds.  She also swatted a career-high three shots and was a career-best 9-for-12 from the charity stripe on Sunday. 

The Musketeers built a 19-point lead on several occasions in the second half.  However, XU would go cold from the floor and connected on only one field goal over an 8:10 stretch.  The cold spell allowed ETSU to mount a 15-2 run, cutting the lead to five points, 66-41, after Devin Thompson hit a jumper at the four-minute mark. 

Taylor would answer on the ensuing possession though, burying a 3-pointer to enhance the XU lead back to eight points and effectively put the game away.  Taylor's 3-pointer would be XU's last field goal of the game but the Musketeers iced the contest with solid free throw shooting down the stretch. 

The two teams were tied at 37 rebounds a piece but Xavier dominated down low, out-scoring ETSU by a 30-to-8 margin in the paint.  After turning the ball over 29 times in their last game, the Musketeers took much better care of the ball vs. ETSU and committed only 11 miscues.  XU took advantage and held a 14-to-5 edge in points off turnovers.

The Musketeers took the lead for good when Harris converted on a turnaround jumper to give XU a 17-16 edge with 8:10 remaining in the first half. 

ETSU would shave a nine-point XU lead to four points, 30-26, with 1:40 to go but XU would conclude the half on a 6-0 run and took a 36-26 lead into the locker room.  

The Musketeers will be back in action on Friday, December 28 when they return from Christmas break to take on Akron.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Akron.

Xavier vs. East Tennessee State
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

·          Today's win improves Kevin McGuff's record at Xavier to 112-54 and his .675 willing percentage is the highest in XU history.

·          Freshman standout Ta'Shia Phillips earned her sixth double-double of the season today scoring 17 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

·          Sophomore Amber Harris had a career-high five assists to go with 21 points. Today's game marked the 10^th time Harris scored 20 or more points in her career.

·          Xavier has now gone 68-4 (.944) in five seasons under McGuff when scoring at least 70 points.

·          Xavier is 90-18 (.833) when leading or tied at halftime under McGuff.

·          XU improves 94-25 at Cintas Center since the facility opened prior to the 2000-01 season.