Feb. 1, 2008
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Box Score
Sunday's Game Notes
CINCINNATI - The Xavier University women's basketball team will head east to take on Rhode Island on Sunday. Game time is set for 12 p.m. in Kingston and fans can listen to the action live on GOXAVIER.com. Xavier enters the game on a five-game winning streak and with an overall mark of 15-6. URI enters the contest with a 9-11 record.
McGuff at 120
Sixth-year head coach Kevin McGuff's first five seasons at Xavier have been the most productive first five seasons any XU coach has enjoyed. McGuff is the first coach to lead Xavier to five consecutive postseason appearances in his/her first five years at XU and he reached 100 wins in fewer games (149) than any coach in Xavier history. McGuff's record at Xavier now stands at 121-56 and his .684 winning percentage is the highest in XU history.
McGuff Moves Up A-10 Charts
Sixth-year head coach Kevin McGuff is bolting up a couple of lists after leading XU to an 11-3 conference record last season. McGuff is in ninth place on the all-time Atlantic 10 winning percentage list (regular season games only). McGuff has a record of 59-25 in A-10 regular season games since the 2002-03 season for a winning percentage of .702. Joe McKeown (GW) and Dawn Staley (Temple) are the only other two active A-10 coaches with better winning percentages in regular season play (min. 30 wins). McGuff now sits in 14th place, after just five+ seasons, on the A-10 wins list (regular season games only) with 59.
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Xavier Not at a Loss
XU's loss to Cincinnati on December 1, 2007 marked the Musketeers' first two-game losing streak since the team dropped a 74-72 decision to Louisville on November 30, 2006. Since the 2004-05 season, XU is 28-2 following a loss.
New Year's "D" at UK
The Musketeers improved to 5-1 all-time vs. Kentucky with a 51-46 victory on New Year's Day in Lexington. The victory came thanks in large part to a solid defensive effort by XU. Xavier held Kentucky to 25.4 percent from the floor, marking the lowest field goal percentage for an XU opponent on its home floor since Rhode Island shot 23.6 percent from the floor on January 6, 2000 in Kingston, R.I. Xavier held UK to 11.1 percent shooting in the second half (3-for-27), which marked the worst field goal percentage on record an opponent has shot in a half. Xavier is now 6-1 vs. SEC teams since the 2005-06 season.
Solid Debuts
Transfers Tudy Reed (Rutgers) and April Phillips (Georgia Tech) made their long-awaited Xavier debuts on December 28 at Akron. Neither Reed (junior) nor Phillips (sophomore) disappointed. Reed scored a career-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while Phillips scored seven points in a one-minute span against the Zips. Xavier is 9-2 since Phillips and Reed became eligible.
XU vs. the Power Conferences
Xavier is 27-27 all-time vs. teams from the ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-10. XU played a record nine schools from the power conferences in 2006-07, besting the previous record of five set during the 2005-06 season. Xavier is scheduled to play eight games vs. teams from the power conferences this year. XU is 17-15 vs. BCS schools since Kevin McGuff was named head coach prior to the 2002-03 season and finished the 2006-07 season at 5-4 vs. the power conferences.
The Series vs. Rhode Island
The Musketeers are 11-5 all-time vs. the Rams and have won 11 of the last 14 contests. XU's last loss came on January 8, 2006 when Safi Mojidi threw in a running 17-footer as time expired to break the tie and give URI a 68-66 win. Xavier is 5-4 all-time at Rhode Island.
Making a Point
The play of Xavier's point guards, Alesia Barringer and Special Jennings, has proven critical this season. In XU wins, the duo combines for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.90 and shoots 30.0 percent from the field. However, in Xavier losses the duo's assist-to-turnover ratio slips to .85 while they shoot a chilly 22.0 percent from the floor.
Déjà Vu
The Musketeers come into today's contest with a 14-6 record through the first 20 games of the 2007-08 season. Oddly, XU has gone 14-6 in its first 20 games in five of Kevin McGuff's six years as head coach. XU was 13-7 over its first 20 games of the 2003-04 season.
Another New Rebounding Record?
Sophomore forward Amber Harris established a new single-season rebounding record when she snared 303 boards during the 2006-07 season. Her record could be short-lived though as freshman center Ta'Shia Phillips is on pace to decimate Harris' single-season mark. Phillips is leading the Atlantic 10 at 11.3 rebounds per game and is on pace to corral 328 rebounds during the 2007-08 regular season.
AFTER 21 GAMES
Rebs. RPG Total
Harris (2006-07) 179 8.5 303
Phillips (2007-08) 237 11.3 328*
* projected total
Is That a Good Tip?
Amber Harris is slated to jump center for the Musketeers this season. So far she is 17-4 in regards to winning the opening tip. Xavier is 14-3 when Harris wins the tip.
