Box Score (PDF)

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Junior Sara Dickey posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Raeshaun Gaffney countered with 18 points to lead Xavier to a 65-57 win over the University of Evansville women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at the Cintas Center.
 
Dickey hit six of her 18 shots and hauled in 10 boards to lead the Purple Aces in both categories.  Aaliyah Gaines registered 14 points while Kerri Gasper drained four of her five shots to record 11 points.
 
"I'm proud of our team.  We showed a lot of energy, togetherness and fight.  I through we battled hard in the second half," UE head coach Oties Epps said.  "We were able to created positive plays from our press and transition game.  Overall, we did not shoot the ball as well as we are capable of, but we are confident that we can improve our shooting."
 
The Musketeers scored the first four points of the game before UE got on the board and scored the next five to take its first lead at 5-4 on a Gasper layup.  Later, Evansville retook the lead at 9-8 on a Camary Williams free throw before XU responded with six in a row.  Xavier went on to lead by three, 18-15, after one quarter.
 
Evansville stayed within shouting distance midway through the second frame, trailing 27-20.  That is when Xavier made its move, finishing the half on a 9-2 run to lead by a 36-22 score at the break.  In the third quarter, the Musketeers came out firing, extending their lead to 18 points at 41-23.  The Aces did not give up as a 5-0 stretch to wrap up the quarter saw them get within nine at 51-42.
 
Trailing by 13 points (59-46) with 5:41 remaining, the Aces mustered their way back into the game.  A 7-0 run was capped off by a Gaines triple that got UE within six with just over three minutes remaining.  After Xavier extended the lead back to eight on a pair of free throws, the Aces scored the next four to make it a 61-57 game with 1:26 left.
 
The late rally came up just shy as the Musketeers hit all four free throw attempts in the final 78 ticks to escape with the 65-57 win.
 
UE's offense hit 31.7% of its shots, but was able to rally thanks to a stifling defense that forced 18 turnovers.  Xavier's size played a difference as they recorded eight blocks and outrebounded UE by a 42-37 tally.
 
On Monday night, the Aces will look to get in the win column as they stay in the Cincinnati area to play Miami University.  Tip is set for 7 p.m. ET at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.
 

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