Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Elon (National City Xavier Invitational Semifinal)
Xavier Downs Elon 62-51 in National City Xavier Invitational
11.25.05 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2005
CINCINNATI - Tara Boothe scored 20 points to lead three Musketeers in double-figures as the Xavier University women's basketball team defeated Elon 62-51 on Friday afternoon in the first game of the National City Xavier Invitational.
With the win, XU improves to 2-1 on the season and advances to the Championship Game where the Musketeers will face the winner of the Kent State vs. Valparaiso game at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Elon slips to 2-1 on the campaign.
The game was played evenly well into the second half until XU took a 42-41 lead it would not relinquish with 9:10 remaining in the contest on a Boothe turnaround jumper. Boothe's jumper came in the midst of a 21-4 Xavier run, which the Musketeers used to put Elon away.
Boothe capped the 21-4 run with a lay-up at the 3:20 mark, giving Xavier a 58-45 lead; its largest of the game.
Junior guard Suntana Granderson scored 19 points and was 3-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Junior guard Michele Miller was outstanding in the win, scoring 11 points and hauling in a career-high nine rebounds. Miller also dished-out four assists against one turnover.
Sophomore forward Candyce Bingham scored four points and snatched a career-high seven rebounds in the win. The Musketeer defense allowed Elon to shoot 45.7 percent from the field (21-for-46) but forced the Phoenix into 18 turnovers. XU held a valuable 23-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
XU out-rebounded Elon 33-to-28 including 11-to-3 on the offensive glass. That offensive rebounding advantage translated into a 10-1 edge in second chance points for XU.
The game was back-and-forth early as the contest saw one tie and five lead changes in the first stanza. The Phoenix would take a five-point lead, 21-13, with 4:40 to go in the first half.
However, XU would sprint out to a 14-4 run over the remainder of the half to seize a 27-25 halftime lead. The XU run was capped off with a 3-poiner by Miranda Green with 20-seconds left in the first session.
Xavier vs. Elon Post Game Notes
November 25, 2005
• With the win, XU improves to 26-9 all-time in home openers and have won 14 consecutive home openers including all six at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers improve to 8-1 all-time in the National City Xavier Invitational.
• Senior forward Tara Boothe scored 20 points, bringing her career total to 1,736 points. Boothe is currently in fourth place on XU's all-time list, 19 points behind Nicole Levandusky's third place total.
• Boothe also snared six rebounds in the win, bringing her career total to 742 and tying Jennifer Phillips' fifth place total.
• The Musketeers missed their first five 3-point field goal attempts of the contest until Suntana Granderson drained a long-ball at the 7:20 mark.
• Candyce Bingham established a new career high with seven rebounds vs. the Phoenix.
• Boothe eclipsed the 20-point plateau for the 41st time in her career.
• Miranda Green dished-out six assists vs. the Phoenix, moving her career total to 241 career assists and 16 shy of Nicole Like's seventh place total.
