Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
15-13, 7-10BE
No. 25 Seton Hall
25-4, 14-3BE
No. 25 Pirates Top Musketeers on Friday Night
02.27.15 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score
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CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped a 77-60 contest with No. 25 Seton Hall on Friday night at Cintas Center.
The Musketeers fell to 15-13 (7-10 BIG EAST) on the year, while the Pirates improved to 25-4 (14-3 BIG EAST). Xavier has now dropped three straight games.
Aliyah Zantt led the Musketeers with a career-high 17 points, scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the second half. Kindell Fincher also had a career night as the freshman guard scored 14 points with four three pointers.
Xavier missed its first 11 shots of the game as Seton Hall built an early 18-3 advantage before a Raeshaun Gaffney layup at the 13:51 mark made the score 18-5. The Musketeers capped a 9-1 run on an Anniina Äijänen basket to get within seven, 19-12, with 10:24 on the clock.
Seton Hall outscored Xavier, 24-9, over the final 10 minutes of the first period to take a 43-21 advantage into the locker room. XU held a 28-26 advantage on the glass in the first half, led by Maddison Blackwell's eight rebounds.
Tabatha Richardson-Smith led all scorers at the break with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Fincher paced XU with six points on two three pointers.
Xavier outscored Seton Hall, 39-34, in the second half behind a .452 field-goal percentage after only hitting 21.2 percent of its shot attempts in the first stanza. The Musketeers also hit five of their eight three pointers in the second half, including three from Zantt.
Xavier won the battle on the glass, 46-42, led by Blackwell who posted a season-high 12 rebounds. Tiffany Jones pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for Seton Hall to go along with 13 points.
Richardson-Smith led all scored with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while Ka-Deidre Simmons had 21 points and a game-high eight assists.
The Musketeers finished the game 10-of-13 from the foul line, while the Pirates were 14-of-17. Seton Hall was 29-of-70 from the floor on the night, while Xavier was 21-of-64.
Xavier returns to action on Sunday, March 1 against St. John's in the squad's home finale. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.
