Taru Tuukkanen (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        OLEAN, N.Y. — The Xavier Musketeers learned a valuable lesson as they put the finishing touches on their first Atlantic 10 regular-season title: Don't take anyone for granted.

        Taru Tuukkanen scored 19 of her 25 points in the second half — including eight over a four-minute stretch — as the 12th-ranked Musketeers hung on for a 93-82 victory over St. Bonaventure in Sunday's regular-season finale. The A-10 tournament starts next weekend.

        “That was a great test,” said Xavier coach Melanie Balcomb, whose team extended its school-record winning streak to 15. “It's almost like a relief more than anything. When you're the favorite, like we are, you don't want people sneaking up on us. You're constantly on guard.”

        The game featured 12 lead changes, including eight in the second half.

        Xavier (25-2, 15-1) went ahead for good when Tuukkanen, the A-10's second-leading scorer, hit two free throws to break a 68-68 tie with 7:07 remaining. She then scored six of her team's next 11 points as the Musketeers opened up an 81-76 lead with 3:28 remaining.

        “(The Bonnies) were all fired up to play us, and the second half was really close. I thought somebody had to step up,” Tuukkanen said.

        Jennifer Phillips shot 10-for-12 from the floor for 24 points for Xavier.

        The Musketeers will get a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament, while the Bonnies (7-20, 3-13) finished 10th and will play Duquesne.

        Melissa Fazio scored a season-high 27 points and, with a first-half steal, became only the second St. Bonaventure player to reach 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals. Courtney Mattingly added 16 points.

XAVIER (93)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Tuukkanen       37 11-15   3-4   1-9  4  2   25
Levandusky      35  4-12   4-4   0-3  3  2   15
Phillips        31 10-12   4-5   3-8  5  4   24
Piipari         36  3-10   1-2   0-1  8  2   10
Parr            32   4-5   2-3   1-2  2  2   12
Waugh           15   0-2   3-4   0-0  4  0    3
Kreager          9   1-1   2-2   2-4  1  0    4
Hall             3   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
Bell             2   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 33-57 19-24  7-27 27 12   93
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.579, FT-.792. 3-Point Goals:
8-17, .471 (Levandusky 3-7, Piipari 3-5, Parr
2-3, Waugh 0-2). Team rebounds: 4. Blocked shots:
5 (Tuukkanen 3, Levandusky, Piipari). Turnovers:
15 (Piipari 3, Bell 2, Levandusky 2, Phillips 2,
Tuukkanen 2, Hall, Kreager, Parr, Waugh). Steals:
7 (Parr 3, Phillips, Piipari, Tuukkanen, Waugh).


ST BONAVENTURE (82)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Clarke          30  5-10   2-2   2-6  2  2   12
Fazio           34 12-22   1-1   1-5  4  3   27
Humble          25   0-0   0-0   1-4  1  2    0
Mattingly       31  7-11   0-0   3-5  5  3   16
Oconnell        25   1-3   0-0   0-0  3  2    3
Charles         16   4-8   0-1   2-5  4  1    8
Maurer          14   0-4   2-2   0-0  3  3    2
Cole             2   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  2    0
Scott           23   6-9   2-3   1-4  1  2   14
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 35-67   7-9 10-29 23 20   82
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.522, FT-.778. 3-Point Goals:
5-12, .417 (Fazio 2-4, Mattingly 2-4, Oconnell
1-2, Charles 0-1, Maurer 0-1). Team rebounds: 2.
Blocked shots: 1 (Charles). Turnovers: 17 (Clarke
5, Mattingly 3, Fazio 2, Scott 2, Charles,
Humble, Maurer, Oconnell). Steals: 10 (Fazio 3,
Charles 2, Maurer 2, Scott 2, Oconnell).
__________________________________
Xavier             45   48  -   93
St Bonaventure     45   37  -   82
__________________________________
Technical fouls: None.  A: 582. Officials: John
Palermo, John Orminiski, Kathy Lynch.

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