Feb. 23, 2006

TIPPING OFF
The Hawks hit the road for the final time this regular season as Saint Joseph's squares off against Xavier Friday evening at the Cintas Center with fourth place in the Atlantic 10 on the line. Both squads enter the game with identical 9-5 records in conference play, with the winner holding a one-game advantage heading into the final game of the season on Sunday.

Click here for Saint Joseph's game notes.

SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
Winning six of its last seven, Xavier is peaking at the right time as they enter the final weekend of the regular season. Led by All-American candidate Tara Boothe, the Musketeers have posted an 18-7 overall record and can clinch fourth place and a bye in the A-10 Tournament with a weekend sweep of the Hawks and Dayton Flyers. A senior forward, Boothe leads the A-10 in scoring at 20.8 ppg, and leads Xavier in rebounding at 9.1 rpg. Likely joining Boothe starting lineup are guards Suntana Granderson (15.1 ppg), Michele Miller (10.1 ppg), Miranda Green (10.0 ppg) and forward Kristy Wallner (6.1 ppg). The group has started all 25 games this season for fourth-year head coach Kevin McGuff.

THE SERIES
The Hawks and Musketeers meet for only the 15th time when the two squads face-off Friday at the Cintas Center. Saint Joseph's, which holds a slight 8-6 edge in the all-time series, is 3-3 when playing in Cincinnati and only 1-2 at the Cintas Center. The Musketeers snapped a three-game losing skid to the Hawks last season as Tara Boothe paced Xavier to a 72-55 win at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on January 21. Boothe led all scorers with 28 points, while Whitney Ffrench scored a then-career-high 17 for SJU.