By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati leads the series. Xavier has the home-court advantage.

Anything can happen in today's 26th annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout, when the city's two Division I women's basketball teams battle for yearlong bragging rights. Tipoff is 1:30 p.m. at Cintas Center.

In 25 meetings, Cincinnati has beaten Xavier 19 times. The Bearcats (3-1) bring experience, statistical edges and seven straight Shooutout wins - but the youthful Musketeers (2-0), which are 36-7 at Cintas Center, easily could play the spoiler.

"The (last seven) games could have gone either way," UC coach Laurie Pirtle said.

"No matter what you try to do, or how you try to cover up, or how you try to say it's something different, these kids know each other. They play open gym together. And they're five minutes away."

The Bearcats are coming off Tuesday's record-setting 105-60 drubbing of Charleston Southern. UC set a school shooting-percentage record (62.7) and tied for the second-best scoring mark.

Senior guard Valerie King posted the best shooting (16-of-20) and scoring (46 points) performances in school history. She set the single-game scoring record at UC - men or women - and is tops among Conference USA women.

Not an easy team to invite into your home if you're Xavier, the 11th-youngest team in the nation.

"We have a lot of younger players, but that's OK. We are who we are," Xavier coach Kevin McGuff said. "We have a lot more depth and more players with the ability to score and contribute."

McGuff starts a junior, three sophomores and a freshman in the wake of graduated backcourt Amy Waugh and Reetta Piipari, who last season combined for 973 of Xavier's 2,039 points.

Leading scorer Tara Boothe, the 2003 Atlantic-10 Freshman of the Year, might be Xavier's most recognizable name, but the team's balance has fueled its efficiency. In a 64-48 defeat of IUPUI Nov. 23, the bench's output matched the starters'.

Freshman guard and second-leading scorer Michele Miller has been among the big surprises, McGuff said. The North College Hill product has scored 22 points with nine rebounds off the bench in Xavier's first two wins.

But defense will be a determining factor in the game's outcome, as Xavier is pressed to stop UC's inside-outside tandem of guard King and junior forward Debbie Merrill. The two have combined for 197 of the team's 321 points. Merrill is a double threat, averaging 11 rebounds in the two Shootouts in which she has played.

"We're going to make her take as many tough shots as we can and keep her off the glass," McGuff said.

UC is still working out wrinkles of its own, with point guard Micah Harvey and center Anne Stephens new to the starting lineup. Freshman guard Treasure Humphries, who twice has started in place of an injured Harvey, also could be a factor. Pirtle wouldn't bank on an eighth straight Shootout victory, considering the past close calls and recent lineup changes.

"You never know what's going to happen," Pirtle said.

Cincinnati at Xavier

Tipoff: 1:30 p.m. today, Cintas Center (10,250).

Records: Cincinnati 3-1, Xavier 2-0.

Radio: None.

TV: None.

CINCINNATI

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Debbie Merrill	Jr.	6-3	21.3
Brittani Young	Sr.	5-11	1.3
Anne Stephens	So.	6-4	9.8
Micah Harvey	So.	5-7	2.0
Valerie King	Sr.	5-8	28.0

Coach: Laurie Pirtle (257-241, 18th season; 340-257 overall).

XAVIER

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Chelsea Chowning	Fr.	5-11	4.0
Tara Boothe	So.	6-1	18.0
Alexis Henderson	Jr.	6-0	5.0
Kristy Wallner	So.	5-10	8.5
Mandy Geryak	So.	5-8	7.0

Coach: Kevin McGuff (22-10, second season; same overall).

Shootout by the numbers

1,000

Free Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout hats distributed for the first fans at Cintas Center.

46

Points UC guard Valerie King scored against Charleston Southern, the game before the Shootout.

515

Points Xavier sophomore forward Tara Boothe has scored in 32 career games.

2

Total NCAA Tournament games played by XU and UC last season.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com