By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier's Tara Boothe (left) was voted the A-10's Rookie of the Year and was named Rookie of the Week 11 times last season. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

There are times when Xavier junior forward Alexis Henderson wants to talk some sense into teammate Tara Boothe.

The girl can score. The girl can defend. But the girl just can't take a compliment.

"Last year when she'd get like the eighth (Atlantic 10) Rookie of the Week award in a row, we'd kid with her and say, 'Hey! You got it again.' She'd just say 'OK' and shrug her shoulders," Henderson said. "It didn't faze her. She never took it for granted that she was one of the best players on the team."

Boothe, the reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and record-holding 11-time Rookie of the Week, heard the story, laughed and shook her head.

"Once, (teammate) Kristy Wallner did ask me if I would let her get (Rookie of the Week) for a week. I told her 'No.' " Boothe said. "I guess I didn't like talking about it, because sometimes I didn't feel like I played great and I still got it."

Boothe was one of the most prolific freshmen in Xavier women's history last season, but she has stopped savoring the memories. With five new freshmen and two transfers on the roster, Boothe has become a teacher.

She doesn't talk loudly, so when she offers instruction to her new teammates, they listen hard.

"I'm not big into screaming and yelling. If you mess up, it's all right. I just talk to you one on one," Boothe said.

Last season, Boothe averaged 16 points and eight rebounds a game. She scored 479 points and grabbed 242 rebounds, both freshman records. She set another freshman record by scoring in double figures in her first 19 games.

The Xavier backcourt attracted much of the team's attention last season, but the losses of guards Amy Waugh and Reetta Piipari to graduation have changed the team's makeup, shifted its talents and put pressure squarely on Boothe.

Though she's nowhere near her college basketball peak athletically, coach Kevin McGuff said Boothe is ready to accept the new role.

"One of the things she always needs to do for us is lead by example," McGuff said. "She can always get people to follow."

Getting back into the game has been a slow process for Boothe, who underwent shoulder surgery in May. The procedure left her right arm - her shooting arm - in a sling for four weeks. It was three months before she could participate in an open gym.

Boothe is aiming for improvements on last season's 20-10 record and NCAA Tournament appearance, and said she believes the team has the personnel to excel.

But just because she's a year older doesn't mean Boothe is more accepting of compliments. She said her family and friends already have begun razzing her about her feats.

"People ask me if I'm going to set the Player of the Week record this year," Boothe said with a smile. "We'll just have to wait and see."