Sunday, March 05, 2000
Xavier women roll into A-10 quarterfinals
BY PETE HOLTERMANN
Enquirer contributor
PHILADELPHIA — The Xavier women's basketball team dominated the inside game, beating St. Bonaventure 76-57 in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Temple's Liacouras Center.
Taru Tuukkanen, Xavier's 6-foot-3 center, scored 21 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Xavier forward Jennifer Phillips, also 6-foot-3, hit all five of her field-goal attempts and added 12 for the 24-4 Musketeers.
“We knew we were successful in the post last time we played them,” Xavier coach Melanie Balcomb said. “We really wanted get it in to them early.”
Tuukkanen scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the game as the Muskies jumped out to a 22-6 lead.
“We watched them play yes terday, and I saw them playing behind all the time in the post,” Tukkanen said. “It's easier that way than if they are denying the ball.”
Xavier's offense was efficient all night. The Muskies were 32-of-63 from the field for 50.8 percent. Xavier also had 25 assists, including nine by point guard Amy Waugh.
The Muskies also played stingy defense, holding the Bonnies to just 36.5 percent shooting while forcing 19 turnovers.
“We've been focusing a lot on defense all year,” said forward Kim Hotz, who came off the bench to score 10 points for Xavier.
About the only place XU was beaten was on the boards. Tuukkanen had nine rebounds and Phillips had seven, but Xavier was outrebounded by St. Bonaventure 41-33.
Xavier advances to the semifinals at 8 p.m. today against St. Joseph's, which beat Dayton 66-61 on Saturday, in a rematch of last year's final. St. Joe's won the East Division with a 14-2 conference record, and is 24-4 overall.
The Muskies have lost three straight games to the Hawks, including 85-73 in last year's championship game. On Jan.9, the Hawks were down 15 points to the Muskies at the half, but came back for a 69-67 win.
“We've got something to prove against them,” Tuukkanen said. “We'll be ready for them. I'm sure they'll be ready for us.”
Balcomb knows she won't have to work too hard to motivate her team.
“(Our team) got the game they want,” Balcomb said. “They were extremely upset and disappointed with the last game.”
ST. BONAVENTURE (57) — Fazio 4-16 1-2 9, Herzer 0-0 0-0 0, Scott 4-6 6-7 14, Mattingly 3-11 0-0 7, Raniewicz 4-9 0-0 9, O'Connell 1-3 0-0 2, Homan 2-4 0-2 2, McGhee 1-4 0-2 2, Cole 3-6 2-2 8, Clarke 1-4 0-0 2, Edwards 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-63 9-13 57
XAVIER (76) — Griggs 2-5 0-0 6, Phillips 5-5 2-2 12, Tuukkanen 9-19 3-5 21, Waugh 3-7 0-0 8, Levandusky 1-5 0-0 3, Piipari 3-4 0-0 7, Kulik 1-3 0-0 2, Parr 0-0 0-0 0, Hotz 5-6 0-0 10, Pasola 0-0 0-0 0, Hughes 2-4 0-0 5, Lowry 1-5 0-0 2. Totals: 32-63 5-7 76
Halftime: Xavier 41, St. Bon. 21. 3-pointers: St. Bon. 2-12 (Fazio 0-2, Mattingly 1-4, Raniewicz 1-4, O'Connell 0-1, Homan 0-1); Xavier 7-17 (Griggs 2-4, Waugh 2-4, Levandusky 1-4, Piipari 1-2, Kulik 0-1, Hughes 1-2). Rebounds: St. Bon. 41 (Scott 8); Xavier 33 (Tuukkanen 9). Assists: St. Bon. 13 (Mattingly 4); Xavier 25 (Waugh 9). A-1,670
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