BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In its final game before Christmas, the Xavier women’s basketball team dropped a 66-55 decision at Indiana Friday afternoon. The Musketeers were led by senior Gray with 16 points in 27 minutes of action. With the loss, XU moves to 5-6 while IU improves to 8-4 on the season.
Also for the Musketeers, senior Jessica Pachko added 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go with two blocks on the afternoon. Junior O’Neill dished out a game-high four assists to go with five points.
Indiana shot 45 percent from the floor to Xavier’s 35.8 percent. The Musketeers struggled at the line today, going 15-for-27 (55.6%) from the charity stripe. IU out-rebounded XU, 43-38, and the Hoosiers forced 18 Musketeer turnovers and committed 14 miscues themselves.
IU used an 8-0 run late in the game to break open the contest, stretching its lead to nine, 52-43, with five minutes left in the game. Xavier was able to cut the lead to three, 55-52, after two made free throws by Gray with just under three minutes to play. IU out-scored XU, 11-3, in the final 2:42 of the game to take the 66-55 win.
Gray came on strong offensively in the second half for the Musketeers, scoring 12 of her 16 points in the final 20 minutes.
The Musketeers stayed with the Hoosiers throughout the first half and led by three with just under two minutes to play in the frame. After starting 3-13 from the field, Xavier ended up shooting at a 40 percent clip (10-25). Pachko led the team with eight points and five rebounds after the first 20 minutes of play.
Indiana was led by Aulani Sinclair and Jasmine McGhee with 27 points apiece while Milika Taufa grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Xavier returns to action Dec. 28 when it participates in the Cavalier Classic hosted by Virginia. The Musketeers’ first game of the classic will be against Northern Illinois Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
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