Entering winter break, the Saint Xavier Women’s Basketball team was riding high. The team was 8-3 on a five game winning streak. The Cougars kicked things off in Fort Lauderdale, Florida when they participated in the 2018 Cruzin’ Classic. SXU started the tournament by playing Johnson & Wales University on December 18th.
The Cougars started off slow, but eventually found their rhythm and won 81-71. The team played the final game of the Cruzin’ Classic the next day against Grand View University. Grand View held a nine point lead going into the second quarter, but the Cougars completely dominated the second quarter, out-scoring their opponent by 20 points.
SXU eventually won the game 84-72 and finished the Cruzin’ Classic with a 10-3 record. After a short Christmas break, the Cougars looked to continue their momentum when they participated in the Saint Xavier Holiday Classic on December 28th and December 29th. Saint Xavier kicked off the tournament by playing Madonna University.
Madonna University never really got anything going and eventually lost to the Cougars 80-103. SXU wrapped up the tournament the next day when they played Huntington University. It was a tied game going into the fourth quarter, but the Cougars were able to run away with it and eventually win 79-73.
The women’s basketball team ended the year with a 12-3 record and was ranked as the 21st best team in the country, according to the NAIA. They kicked off 2019 on January 3rd when they played Indiana Wesleyan University. The Cougars dominated most of the game and eventually won 85-74.
Two days later, the team traveled to University Park, Illinois to play Governor’s State University. In a low-scoring affair, the Cougars and the Jaguars were tied going into the third quarter. SXU held a one point lead with one minute left to play, but Governor’s State made two free throws to put them up by two with three seconds to spare.
Saint Xavier couldn’t get a shot off and lost 57-59, ending their 10 game win streak. The Cougars looked to rebound a few days later when they played Trinity Christian College. SXU completely dominated the game and won 101-55.
Saint Xavier wrapped up Winter break on January 12th when they played Cardinal Stritch University. The Cougars couldn’t get their offense going and eventually lost 69-82. SXU went 6-2 over Winter break and improved their record to 14-5 in the process.
Since school has gotten back in session, the Cougars have gone 2-2, with victories over Olivet Nazarene University and Saint Ambrose University and losses to St. Francis University (IL) and Holy Cross College. SXU is now 16-7 on the year and are ranked as the 17th best team in the country by the NAIA.
Saint Xavier plays twice next week, once against Calumet College and once against Trinity International University. After those two games, the Cougars only have five more games before the playoffs begin. Since the team continued their hot streak over Winter break, this bodes well for their playoff chances.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor
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