Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

CINCINNATI - Sophomore forward Amber Harris registered her 18^th career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team to a 51-39 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday evening at Cintas Center.  With the win, Xavier's fourth straight, the Musketeers improve to 14-6 overall and 4-1 in Atlantic 10 play.  UMass slips to 9-10, 1-3. 

 

The game raised over $1,700 for the "Make a Wish Foundation" as Xavier donated $1 from every ticket sold to Make a Wish.

 

Junior guard Jerri Taylor joined Harris in double-figures with 16 points and she was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep in the second half.  Harris' 10 came on a frosty 2-for-8 shooting but she did take care of business on freebies, going 6-for-9 from the free throw line.  She also blocked a season-high seven shots to fall just three blocks shy of her first-career triple-double. 

 

Freshman point guard Special Jennings was solid, dishing-out six assists while turning the ball over only once. 

 

Junior Tudy Reed gave the Musketeers a spark off the bench, scoring nine points while snaring eight rebounds including five on the offensive glass. 

 

The Minutewomen trailed 19-17 at the half but came out and scored the first four points of the second half to take a 21-19 lead at the 19-minute mark. 

 

However, after a frore-shooting first half, the Musketeers started to drain some shots.  XU scored the next six points and extended that spurt to a 12-2 run over the next 3:40 to take a 31-23 lead with 15:20 to go in regulation. 

 

UMass would shrink the lead to five points at the 12:20 mark but Xavier responded with a 7-0 run, which was capped by a Taylor jumper with 9:10 to go, giving the Musketeers a 40-28 edge. 

 

XU continued its trend of out-rebounding and holding the opponent to a low field goal percentage as the Musketeers enjoyed a 41-to-35 advantage on the glass and held the Minutewomen to an arctic 28.6 percent (14-for-49) from the floor. 

 

Xavier was just as cold though, shooting at the same clip (14-for-49) as UMass.  XU did get it together in the second half though, shooting 47.4 percent from the floor including 60.0 percent from long-range. 

 

Kate Mills and Pam Rosanio each scored 14 points for Massachusetts. 

 

Xavier led 12-8 at the 11-minute mark after both teams struggled offensively in the first half.  UMass started making some shots and jumped out to a 9-2 run over the next 6:50 to take a 17-14 lead with 4:10 left in first stanza. 

 

Xavier would not allow the Minutewomen to score for the remainder of the session though and headed into the locker room with a 19-17 lead. 

 

The Musketeers return to action on Wednesday, January 30 when the team welcomes Saint Louis to Cintas Center for a special 12 p.m. tip.