Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Xavier
Indiana Finishes Strong to Top Xavier, 66-55
12/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2012
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana used a strong second half to top Xavier in Assembly Hall on Friday, 66-55. Seniors Aulani Sinclair and Jasmine McGhee each scored 27 points each to lead the Hoosiers in the win.
The game was tied 7-7 after Xavier's (5-6) Ashley Wanninger hit a 3-point field goal at the 14:14 mark of the opening half. Sinclair answered back for Indiana (8-4) with a 3-pointer of the her own to give IU the lead back.
After a Xavier field goal, Sinclair hit a layup before McGhee made good on a jumper to give Indiana a five-point cushion. Sinclair then polished off IU's 9-2 run with a field goal to put the Hoosiers ahead, 16-9 with 10:51 to play.
The Musketeers would later use an 8-0 spurt of their own to take what would be the biggest lead of the game for Xavier, 27-24, with 1:43 to go. IU then closed the half strong to take a 29-28 advantage into the locker room.
Early in the second half, IU held a 33-30 lead when Andrea Newbauer hustled to grab her own free throw miss to find a wide-open Sinclair for a 3-point bomb to push the Hoosier lead to six.
Xavier again made a push to cut the deficit to one, 38-37, with 14:33 on the clock. Coming off the bench, Sasha Chaplin connected on two layups before and after a Sinclair jumper to push Indiana's lead to seven, 44-37.
The Musketeers again fired back with six-straight points to pull within one point of Indiana, 44-43, with 8:37 to go.
That was as close as the visitors would come as Indiana reeled off an 8-0 run capped by a McGhee layup at the 5:04 mark to make it a 52-43 Hoosier advantage.
Indiana built its lead to as much as 13 points in the final minutes, outscoring Xavier 22-12 in the final 8:23.
IU shots 56.0 percent (14-for-25) in the second half while holding Xavier to just 32.1 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes. The Hoosiers won the rebounding battle, 44-38, and outscored the Musketeers 22-11 in second chance points.
McGhee shot 11-for-18 from the field and had seven rebounds. Sinclair went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc to go along with two blocks.
Chaplin came off the bench and scored eight points and six rebounds in 14 minutes of play. Milika Taufa grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in the game and had three steals.
The Hoosiers will have 10 days off before hosting UIC on Monday, Dec. 31. That game will tip at 6 p.m. ET in Assembly Hall.
Game Notes
• With the win, Indiana improves to 8-4 on the season. It is the first time an IU team has won eight non-conference regular season games since the 2006-07 season when IU won 11 regular season non-Big Ten games.
• Indiana shot 40.0 percent (4-for-10) from 3-point range, marking the seventh time this season that IU has shot 40.0 percent or better from beyond the arc. The Hoosiers are 6-1 in those contests.
• IU outrebounded Xavier, 43-38, marking the seventh time this season that Indiana has outrebounded an opponent. IU is 6-1 when outrebounding opponents this season.
• The Hoosiers outscored the Musketeers in points in the paint, 22-11, and in points off turnovers, 17-10.
• Aulani Sinclair tallied 27 points to go along with three rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Sinclair shot 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and has hit three or more 3-pointers in a game six times this season.
• Jasmine McGhee tied her career high with 27 points, shooting 11-for-18 from the field. She went 1-for-1 from beyond the arc and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. McGhee's 11 field goals set a new career mark. She also had seven rebounds and two assists.
• Milika Taufa finished with a career-high 10 rebounds. She also tied a season high with three steals and added three points.
• Sasha Chaplin scored eight points and had six boards in 14 minutes of play, shooting 4-for-6 from the field.
• Simone Deloach finished with a season-high six rebounds and had a block and a steal.
