Jan. 30, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

CINCINNATI - The Xavier frontline of sophomore Amber Harris and freshman Ta'Shia Phillips combined for 42 points and 25 rebounds to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past Saint Louis by a 69-52 score on Wednesday afternoon at Cintas Center.  With the win, Xavier improves to 15-6 on the year and 5-1 in Atlantic 10 action.  Saint Louis slips to 8-13, 3-3. 

Harris' 20 came on 9-of-19 shooting and she also swatted five shots and dished-out three assists.  The double-double was Harris' 20^th of her career and the game marked the 12^th time she has scored at least 20 points.  Phillips was a nearly automatic 11-of-13 from the floor and five of her 12 boards came on the offensive glass.  She also blocked a career-high four shots while tallying her 12^th double-double of the season. 

Sophomore point guard Alesia Barringer broke out of a shooting slump to score eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from long range.  Freshman point guard Special Jennings did not score but she dropped five dimes and turned the ball over only once. 

Junior forward Tudy Reed chipped in with six points while recording three assists and three blocks. 

The game was tied at 27 at the half but the Musketeers seized control of the contest in the early stages of the second half.  XU held SLU without a field goal for the first seven minutes and forced the Billikens into seven turnovers during that span to open up a 44-30 lead at the 13-minute mark.  Ta'Shia Phillips and Amber Harris scored six and seven points respectively during the decisive stretch. 

Saint Louis was unable to shrink the lead into single digits and XU built the lead up to as many as 20 points en route to the 6-52 win. 

Xavier bludgeoned Saint Louis down low, out-scoring the Billikens 48-16 in the paint.  XU shot 48.4 percent (30-for-62) for the game, including a toasty 52.9 percent (18-of-34) in the second half.  The Billikens made five of their first six field goals to begin the game but cooled off quick and went 11-of-56 (19.6 percent) for the remainder of the game. 

Katie Paganelli led the way for SLU with 17 points.