BRONX, N.Y. -- Junior forward Tara Boothe scored 19 second half points and sophomore guard Suntana Granderson dropped in 16 as the Musketeers erased a 12-point first half deficit to down Fordham 59-57 on Friday evening at the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx. With the win, XU improves to 17-7 on the year and 11-2 in A-10 while the Rams slip to 8-18, 4-9.

Boothe scored 23 points on the night and also collected nine rebounds. Senior center Adeola Olanrewaju had a solid night, hauling in nine rebounds and chipping in with six points. The Brooklyn, native also recorded a career high six steals including four in the last two minutes to the comeback.

The Musketeers trailed 57-51 with 4:30 to go but XU ended the game on an 8-0 run to seal it. Boothe started the run off with a pair of free throws and Michele Miller responded 30-seconds later with a runner in the lane. Granderson then collected an Olanrewaju steal and converted on a lay up to knot the score up at 57 with 1:50 to go.

XU took the lead for good at the 1:10 mark on a Boothe free throw. After another steal, Miranda Green was fouled and converted on a free throw to give XU a two points edge.

Fordham guard Monica Mack got a 40-foot shot up as time expired but it fell short.

Fordham seized control of the game with a 10-0 spurt to start the game and did not allow the Musketeers’ second field goal until the 9:00 mark.

After trailing 31-19 at the half, the Musketeers responded by charging out to a 19-6 run over the first eight minutes of the second half to take the lead, 40-39, on a Boothe leaner.

The Rams would respond though as Jade Leito and Vanessa Silva hit a pair of long balls to help Fordham recapture the lead, 45-44, at the 10-minute mark.

Fordham would build its lead to as many as six points, 57-51 at the 4:30 mark on a Monica Mack runner.

The Rams took their largest lead of the half, 31-14, with 1:50 to go in the first session on Jade Leito 3-pointer. XU would score the last five points of the half to shrink the Fordham advantage to 12 points, 31-19. The 19 points were the fewest XU has scored in the first half this season.

The Musketeers are back in action on Sunday, February 20 when they take on the Colonials of George Washington. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Smith Center.