Dec. 30, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

CINCINNATI - Sophomore forward Maureen Hester and freshman center Ta'Shia Phillips each scored 15 points to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team to a 79-54 dismantling of Mercer on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center.  With the win, XU improves to 8-4 on the year while Mercer slips to 3-10. 

Sophomore forward Amber Harris was the third Musketeer in double-figures with 13 points.  She also snared six rebounds and blocked three shots in only 16 minutes of action. 

Ta'Shia Phillips and April Phillips each pulled down a game-high eight rebounds while Ta'Shia Phillips also blocked a pair of shots in 20-minutes of action.  Ta'Shia Phillips, the A-10's leader in field goal percentage, was a nearly automatic 7-of-9 from the floor.    

Hester's 15 came on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point arc.  Hester is currently leading the Atlantic 10 with a .500 3-point shooting percentage. 

Xavier would extend its 47-22 halftime lead to as many as 30 points in the second half, allowing most of the regulars to rest.  The rest could prove valuable as Xavier is about to play three games in six days, all against teams from BCS conferences (at Kentucky on Tuesday, vs. Kansas on Friday and vs. No. 5 Georgia on Sunday). 

Xavier started strong establishing a 28-11 lead at the 9:38 mark following a 13 point run. Mercer responded scoring five points over the next minute. The Musketeers extended their lead to 41-16 over the next two minutes after another 13 point run.

XU ended the first half with a 47-22 lead at intermission.

The Musketeers scored a season-high 23 points off turnovers and held a decisive 36-to-14 edge in points in the paint.  Xavier also dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Bears by a 49-to-24 count, including an 18-to-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Harris led Xavier in the first half scoring 11 points. Phillips scored nine while freshman Special Jennings added seven in the first 20 minutes of play.

The Musketeers return to action Tuesday, January 1 when the team takes on the Wildcats of Kentucky. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.

Xavier vs. Mercer
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Cintas Center - Cincinnati, Ohio

·          After today's win McGuff's record at Xavier now stands at 114-54 and his .679 winning percentage is the highest in XU history.

·          Xavier improves to 86-18 when out-rebounding its opponent since the 2002-03 season.

·          XU improves to 70-4 in five seasons under McGuff when scoring at least 70 points.

·          Under Kevin McGuff, Xavier is now 92-18 (.836) when leading or tied at halftime.

·          Freshman Megan Askew recorded a career-high two steals.

·          Sophomore Maureen Hester scored a career-high 15 points and tied her career-high four assists.

·          Freshman Special Jennings scored a career-high nine points while sophomore Der-ryka Martin scored a career-high four points.