CINCINNATI – The Xavier women’s basketball team moves to 2-1 on the season after beating the High Point Panthers, 77-48, Monday evening in Cintas Center. Senior Jessica Pachko led the Musketeers with her first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds. Senior Amber Gray had a season-high 14 points and junior Shatyra Hawkes added 14 points of her own.
Also for the Musketeers, freshman Briana Glover was the fourth XU player in double-figures scoring with a career-high 14 points. Three Musketeers dished out three or more assists on the night: junior Ty O’Neill with a career-high eight, Hawkes with six and freshman Aliyah Zantt dished out a career-high five dimes.
For the game, Xavier was a scorching 53.6 (30-56) from the field and shot a season-high 88.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Xavier demonstrated its stingiest defense of the season by holding High Point (1-3) to a season-low 48 points, 26 percent from the field (17-of-65), and 11 percent from long-range (1-of-9). The Musketeers sealed the victory with a 19-4 run over the final 7:02 of the game to put them ahead for good.
The Musketeers held the Panthers scoreless over the last 2:14 of the contest, using a 6-0 run to push the XU lead to its final margin of 77-48. Xavier and High Point went back and forth before the Musketeers maintained a steady lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Panthers were able to pull within 11 on a long-range jumper from Stacia Robertson but would get no closer. High Point came out of the locker room with a quick five points but Xavier responded with a 6-0 run lasting 2:04, stretching the lead to 43-26 with 15:25 left in the game.
Xavier went into the half up 37-21, its largest lead of the game to that point. The Musketeers shot 44 percent (12-of-27) from the field and were a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. Xavier’s tough defense pressured the Panthers into 14 turnovers and 29 percent (8-of-27) shooting from the floor in the first half.
Crouch had eight points, four steals (career-high) and three rebounds in the first half for the Musketeers. Glover also pitched in eight points in the first half and ended the game with a career-high 10 points.
The Musketeers ended the first half with an electric 24-4 run in which they forced nine turnovers and held the Panthers to 2-8 shooting.
Xavier had a 12-0 run that lasted 3:21 and put them ahead 25-17 with 4:57 left in the first half. The Musketeers forced a couple of turnovers and their defense forced seven missed shots for HPU.
Midway through the first half the game went back and forth with four ties and six lead changes. Xavier fell in a hole early, down by four with 11:48 remaining in the half. High Point had nine points off eight Xavier turnovers.
The Panthers were led by Cheyenne Parker with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds, the only other double-double of the game. Two other Panthers chipped in 10 points apiece while Parker swatted four blocks and tallied five steals.
The Musketeers face off against Morehead State Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in the Cintas Center. Bring a canned food item to receive a $5 ticket for admission.
Game Notes:
The Musketeers had a season-high 75 points.
The Musketeers went on a 24-4 run that lasted the final 8:32 of the first half.
Tied season high with 37 points in the first half.
Xavier is 130-7 when scoring more than 70 points over the last 11 seasons, including two 2-0 this season.
Since 2004-05, Xavier is 43-21 all-time following a loss.
Xavier had season-highs in assists (20), shooting percentage (50 percent), free throw percentage (94 percent).
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