OLEAN -- No. 11 Xavier tips off against St. Bonaventure in the Reilly Center in about half an hour. The Musketeers are 13-3 overall with losses at MIchigan State, Michigan and to No. 11 LSU. They're 3-0 in the Atlantic 10 and head-and-shoulders above the rest of the conference.
Xavier is led by Amber Harris (14.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Ta'Shai Phillips (13.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg). Big and strong they dominate the low post but also shoot well from three-point range. For the Bonnies (14-5, 2-2) to have a chance at making a game of it they need to slow the pace of the game down to a near crawl, shoot well from outside and limit Xavier's offensive possessions.
Check back for updates throughout the game.
First half
15:14: Xavier leads, 7-5 on a three-pointer by April Phillips. Bona took a 5-2 lead and is moving the ball well on offense.
11:28: A three-pointer by Cara Gustafson puts Bona up, 8-7. The Bonnies are doing what they need -- running their offense for 30 seconds to limit Xavier's opportunities on the other end. The offense looks OK, but better shot selection late in the clock would be beneficial.
8:53: Bona calls a 30-second time out as Xavier goes up, 16-8. The Bonnies are missing their shots and Xavier's offense is starting to click with high-low passes and outside shots.
7:57: A jumper by Megan Van Tatenhove cuts the Xavier lead to 16-10.
3:36: Bona got as close as four, 20-16, after back-to-back three-pointers from Jessica Jenkins but Xavier again pushed the lead back to eight, 24-16.
Halftime: Xavier leads, 29-18. The Bonnies had an opportunity to keep it under double-digits but a steal and fastbreak layup by Special Jennings extended the lead to 11 for the break. Jennings leads all scorers with 10 points. Xavier has dominated the glass, 20-13, and the paint (20 points versus two for Bona) but the Bonnies have six steals have limited their own turnovers and hit 4-for-9 from three-point range to stay in the game. Jenkins leads Bona's offense with six points.
Second half
15:43: An 11-0 run by Bona has the team within two, 31-29. Andrea Doneth has eight points this half including two traditional three-point plays.
10:57: The Bonnies tied the game, 31-31 but Xavier went on a 12-0 run fueled by three straight three-pointers to take a 43-31 lead. The Bonnies are working the shot clock but failing to consistently get quality shots and Xavier is starting to run off misses catching the Bona defense unset.
7:47: Xavier leads, 45-38. The Bonnies aren't going away as they earn trips to the free throw line.
2:04: Xavier takes control of the game, 60-37, dominating the low post.
Final: Xavier wins, 62-53.
--- Amy Moritz
www.twitter.com/amymoritz
tagged
Atlantic 10 | Big 4 | College basketball | St. Bonaventure
