Box score
CINCINNATI, Ohio- Xavier used a defensive first-half as a springboard to a 76-48 exhibition win over the UIndy women's basketball team at the Cintas Center Saturday afternoon. XU held the Hounds to just a dozen first-half points to aide in the win.
The Musketeers held a sizable height advantage, but outrebounded the Hounds by just two, 23-21, in the first half. The Greyhounds hung tough with the Division I power, trailing 17-8 midway through the opening half, but Xavier's Katie Rutan knocked-down four three-pointers to help the Musketeers pull away. UIndy shot just 12 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes and trailed 36-12 at the break.
UIndy went to the perimeter game in the second half, hitting on four of its first 10 shots from three-point range, as the large lead dwindled to as few as 22 halfway through the period.
The Hounds did not shoot the ball particularly well, connecting on 21.1 percent for the game, but forced 18 Xavier turnovers and grabbed 10 steals. The second-half effort was key in UIndy only being outscored by four in the second half, 40-36.
Jessica Canary (Coatesville, Ind./South Putnam) had 11 second-half points, part of her team-high 15 points.
Hillary Wenning (Greensburg, Ind./North Decatur) and
Samantha Meissel (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute North) each chipped-in nine points while Meissel led the Hounds with six rebounds.
Amber Harris had 14 points, 15 boards and four blocks for Xavier, one of three in double figures scoring (Ta'Shia Phillips 18, Rutan- 15).
UIndy opens its regular season Sunday with a home game against St. Catharine's. Tip time is slated for 3:00 p.m.
Notes: Xavier is ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Preseason poll and No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today rankings ... UIndy is ranked No. 4 in the Division II Bulletin Preseason poll and is 11th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll ... The Musketeers have won the Atlantic-10 Conference in each of the past three seasons.