Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Saint Joseph's
Xavier Wins A-10 Women's Basketball Championship
03.05.07 | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2007
Box Score |
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CINCINNATI - Tournament Most Outstanding Player Joei Clyburn scored 19 points, hauled in 13 rebounds and hit some clutch free throws down the stretch to lead the Xavier University women's basketball team past Saint Joseph's, 65-59, in the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship Final on Monday evening at Cintas Center. The Musketeers take home the championship hardware for the third time (2000, 2001) and improve to 26-7 on the year. Saint Joe's slips to 19-13 on the year.
Xavier's 26 wins are tied for the second-most in program history and the Musketeers improve to 3-1 all-time in the A-10 Championship Final. With the title, XU garnered the A-10's automatic bid into the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Seeds and pairings will be announced on Monday, March 12 on the NCAA Selection show, which will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.
Freshman forward Amber Harris scored 15 points and snared eight rebounds. She earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team and established a new school single-season rebounding mark with 293 boards.
Clyburn's 19 came on 6-of-8 shooting and the 13 rebounds marked a new career high. The A-10 Sixth Player of the Year also blocked a pair of shots in 35 minutes of action.
Senior guard Suntana Granderson added 13 points and was a spotless 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Xavier extended a 23-21 halftime lead to 10 points, 35-25, with 14:10 remaining in the second half after charging out to a 17-4 run over a nine-minute stretch.
Saint Joe's would not lie down though and the Hawks tied the score up at 55 on a jumper by Whitney Ffrench with only 1:30 to go to set up yet another dramatic finish.
However, Xavier was clutch from the free throw line, hitting on 10-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe in the game's last minute. Senior guard Michele Miller gave XU the lead for good after she grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds, was fouled and hit a free throw with one-minute to go to give the Musketeers a 56-55 edge.
Clyburn grabbed her 13th rebound of the game after Xavier got a big stop on the ensuing possession, was fouled and buried a pair of free throws to give XU a little breathing room.
Xavier held a decisive 44-to-30 advantage on the boards, including a 28-to-20 edge on the defensive glass.
XU shot just 39.6 from the field but took care of business at the charity stripe, connecting on 75.9 percent (22-of-29) from the free throw line.
The first half was a back and forth affair, featuring five ties and six lead changes. The Hawks led by as many as four points, 21-17, after Brittany Ford hit a fast break lay-up with 4:40 remaining in the first session.
Xavier would clamp down though, holding the Hawks scoreless the rest of the way and opening up a 23-21 lead at the break. XU ended the first half on a 6-0 run with four points coming off Clyburn put-backs.
