After their 86-68 win over Saint Ambrose University back on Nov. 16, the Saint Xavier women’s basketball team came back to Chicago to play their first home game of the season against Cardinal Stritch University on Nov. 19.
The atmosphere in the Shannon Center was electric to say the least as the SXU student body came out to support the women’s team.
They were hoping for an exciting game and easy victory, and boy, did the Cougars deliver!
Throughout the course of the game, the Cougar defense was the bright spot of the night, holding Cardinal Stritch to just 27 baskets out of 90 attempts.
As a team, the Cougars also had 35 rebounds and 11 steals.
Looking at the individual statistics, senior guard Suzie Broski racked up a total of 19 points in 27 minutes of play, which was the most out of any of her teammates.
Broski also had three defensive rebounds and two blocks.
Freshman guard Kara Krolicki continued her positive play this season by scoring 17 points for the Cougars, with 15 of them coming from three pointers.
Krolicki is the only first year player to have received a starting spot so far this season, as well as consistent play time.
Forward Morgan Stuut had a double double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, while junior center Caitlin McMahon posted 12 points.
McMahon also had a three steals, which were the most out of both SXU and Cardinal Stritch.
While the Wolves started the game out with a scathing three pointer, once the Cougars got the ball in their possession, there was no turning back.
Following an 11-2 run, the Cougars were on top of the leader board and stayed that way throughout the rest of the game.
The Cougars beat the Wolves 77-57, leading them to a 1-0 conference play record.
While this may have been SXU’s first home game of the season, the team didn’t stay put for long as they packed up their bags and got back on the road for their next contest.
SXU traveled just one state over to take on Taylor University (Ind.) out at Odle Arena on Nov. 22.
Even though the Cougars were on the road, history was being made by Stuut as she moved up to number two on the SXU all-time career scoring list.
She now trails Saint Xavier University athletics Hall of Famer, Mary Cain, by 78 points.
Stuut accomplished this feat in style as she had a game high sixteen points and was one of five SXU players to reach double digits.
The senior also had six rebounds and five steals.
Continuing her great play from the previous game against Cardinal Stritch, McMahon came in clutch for the women’s team as she went 6 for 6 from the field, knocking down baskets like it was her job.
She had a double double with 15 points and 13 rebounds while also totaling three blocks, the only ones that came from either team all game.
Broski proved that her last few games weren’t flukes as she racked up 13 points along with five rebounds in her thirty minutes of play.
Sophomore guard Mikayla Leyden scored eleven points in her team high 31 minutes of play; Krolicki had 10 points in her 29 minutes.
With all of this happening for the Cougars, it’s no wonder that their lead over Taylor University was fairly large…at least until halftime.
With only a few seconds left in the first half, the Trojans pulled within four to give SXU a little bit of discomfort once the halftime break started.
But thankfully, McMahon and Leyden decided it was time to heat up and continue their great play from the first half, sparking the Cougar offense with a 21 – 4 run.
At one point, the Cougars had a huge twenty-five point lead over Taylor University, sealing the deal for victory.
SXU beat TU with a final score of 76 to 57, thanks to strong offensive attacks and defensive holds.
Analyzing both games, it’s easy to see that the Cougas are doing a spectacular job of working together as a team so far this season.
Newcomer Krolicki fits in well with the upperclassmen like Broski, Stuut, and McMahon, who have all honed their skills since joining the team just a few years ago.
With Leyden and Sidney Prasse contributing as well, it looks as if the women’s team is poised to be big contenders this year for the NAIA championship.
After the hard work Saint Xavier put into both games, the women’s team had a week off to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and rest up before continuing on with their season.
The next game for SXU will be against Roosevelt University (Ill.) on Dec. 3, which they will be hosting at the Shannon Center at 7 P.M.
Good luck Cougars!
Torie Bolster
Sports Editor
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