TicketsDec. 5, 2010
CINCINNATI (AP) - Amber Harris had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 4 Xavier to a 69-61 win over rival Cincinnati on Sunday, extending the Musketeers' perfect start to a program-record eight games.
Shareese Ulis scored 24 points, one short of matching her career high, to lead the Bearcats (5-2). Bjonee Reaves and Tiffany Turner each scored 10 for Cincinnati.
The Bearcats trailed, 41-25, at halftime thanks to hot shooting by Xavier (8-0). The Musketeers, who entered the game as the nation's leading squad in shooting percentage, hit on 16-of-30 from the floor (53.3 percent) in the opening stanza.
Cincinnati used an 18-5 run over a six minute stretch, capped by a Reaves three with 10:20 to go to make it 52-47.
The senior-laden Musketeers were too much down the stretch, as each Bearcat challenge was met with a bucket on the other end.
Three Tyeasha Moss free throws in the final 30 seconds pushed the final margin to 69-61.
The Bearcats, who didn't start a player over 6-1, were outrebounded by the Musketeers by just one carom, 35-34. Xavier's starting front line stands 6-5, 6-6, 6-0 and has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 9.5 boards per game.
Tyeasha Moss scored 14 points and senior Megan Askew had a career-high 12, all in the first half, to go along with Harris' 44th career double-double. Ta'Shia Phillips also scored 12.
Xavier also beat Cincinnati last season to set the previous program record for best start at 7-0. The Musketeers have won 23 consecutive regular-season games dating to a home loss last Dec. 30 to LSU.
The Bearcats will have 10 days off to prepare for its BIG EAST Conference opener against rival Louisville on Dec. 15 in Fifth Third Arena.