The Saint Xavier Women’s Basketball team has been among one of the best teams in the country this year.
They brought more of the dominating attitude that has followed this team all year.
The week started on February 4th when the Cougars played the Calumet Crimson Wave at the Shannon Center. The Cougars, ranked as the 17th best team in the country according to the NAIA, entered the game with a 17-7 record. The Crimson Wave entered the game with a 4-20 record, among the worst in the CCAC.
Saint Xavier completely dominated the first quarter, eventually ending the quarter with a 24-11 lead. The Cougars continued their dominance in the second quarter, allowing Calumet to only score 10 points. SXU went into halftime up 46-21.
The third quarter turned out even worse for the Crimson Wave since the Cougars eventually went up by 36 toward the end. Both teams put in their bench players for the fourth quarter, but that did not stop the Cougars from expanding their lead and eventually winning 77-40.
With the victory, Saint Xavier improved to 18-7 on the year, while Calumet College fell to 4-21.
SXU got right back to work two days later when they played the Roosevelt Lakers at the Shannon Center. Roosevelt entered the game with a 13-12 record. Both teams traded leads to start the first quarter, but it was the Cougars who ended the first quarter with a three point lead.
In the second quarter, the SXU defense could not keep up with the high-powered Roosevelt offense, who ended the second quarter with a two point lead.
The third quarter started with Roosevelt jumping out to an 11 point lead, but that would not last as SXU were able to cut the lead to five before the third quarter ended.
Both teams played hard and fast in the fourth quarter, with the Cougars even getting within two points of the lead with under 30 seconds left to play.
However, Saint Xavier could not get any more points and eventually lost 68-65. The Cougars fell to 18-8 on the year with the defeat, while the Lakers improved to 14-12 with the victory.
SXU had to put that debilitating loss behind them because they had to travel to South Bend, Indiana to play Indiana University-South Bend three days later. IU-South Bend entered the game with an 11-15 record.
Saint Xavier started off slow, only leading by five after the first quarter, but completely dominated the second quarter, eventually going into halftime up by 20 points.
The third quarter was more of the same from the Cougars, who eventually ended the quarter with a 34 point lead.
Both teams put in their bench for the fourth quarter, but the Cougars eventually won 73-44. With the victory, Saint Xavier improved to 19-8 on the season, while IUSouth Bend fell to 11-16.
The Cougars will look to continue their recent run of dominance against Indiana University Northwest, Judson University, and Robert Morris University next week in what will be their final three regular season games.
SXU looks to be in prime position to go far in the playoffs this year.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor