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Xavier wins dogfight in Round 2;
North Carolina, Arizona State also win |
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November 16, 2008 – Xavier and Indiana battled back-and-forth Sunday in a postseason-like atmosphere before Xavier emerged on top, 62-59 in Round 2 of the Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
In other Round 2 games Sunday, North Carolina downed VCU 77-65, and Arizona State defeated visiting Tulane 86-53.
Xavier (2-0) and ranked in the Top 25 (No. 22) for the first time in eight years, did not lead until Jerri Taylor hit a 3-pointer with 16:44 left in the second half. From there, the lead changed hands several times until Xavier took the lead for good at 60-57 with 1:52 left in the game.
Ta’Shia Phillips had a double-double for Xavier, with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Teammate Special Jennings added 11 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
Indiana (1-1) was led by Whitney Thomas, who notched her own double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Xavier advances to play North Carolina at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday in the semifinals. Indiana will play a team to be determined in a Consolation Round 3 game later this week.
North Carolina got past a VCU team picked to finish second to Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Association. Rashanda McCants (15 points, eight rebounds, five steals) and Jessica Breland (10 points, six rebounds, three blocks) paced the Tar Heels, ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
VCU was led by Quanitra Hollingsworth (20 points, six rebounds) and Radoslava Bachvarova (19 points, three rebounds).
Arizona State, ranked No. 17 in the country, led Tulane by 20 points at halftime and extended that lead in the second half. The Sun Devils were helped by Dymond Simon’s 15 points and Briann January’s 14 points.
Tulane’s top scorer was Indira Kaljo, with 13 points.
Arizona State will play the Oklahoma-Middle Tennessee winner on Friday, while Tulane will play a Consolation Round 3 game later this week against an opponent to be announced.
Championship bracket
Round 2 Games
Xavier 62, Indiana, 59
Arizona State 86, Tulane 53
North Carolina 77, VCU 65
Middle Tennessee at Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 19
Consolation bracket
Consolation Rounds 1-2
Host Site A
At Ball State
Friday, Nov. 21
Cleveland State vs. Illinois State, 5:30 p.m. ET
Robert Morris at Ball State, 8 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 22
TBA vs. TBA, 5:30 p.m. ET
TBA vs. Ball State, 8 p.m. ET
Host Site B
At Western Carolina
**NOTE the times are different each day**
Friday, Nov. 21
Liberty vs. UC Riverside, 5 p.m. ET
Lafayette at Western Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 22
TBA vs. Western Carolina, 7 p.m. ET
TBA vs. TBA, 9:30 p.m. ET
Consolation Round 3
Host Site C
Indiana, VCU, and Tulane vs. teams TBD, dates/locations TBD
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