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NCAA Basketball Scoreboard: Recap

Recap | Box Score | Today's Scoreboard

Xavier (OH) 80, Tennessee 65

Posted: Saturday March 24, 2001 04:42 PM

Xavier (OH) Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Cincinnati Message Boards: • NCAA

Tennessee Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Knoxville Message Boards: • NCAA

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Ticker) -- Xavier wanted a matchup against Tennessee to prove that it belongs among the nation's elite women's basketball teams.

The Musketeers made the most of the opportunity, pulling off the biggest victory in school history with a stunning 80-65 upset of the top-seeded Volunteers in an NCAA Tournament Mideast Region semifinal game at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.

Xavier (31-2), which had never reached the "Sweet 16", won its 21st straight game -- the longest current winning streak in Division I -- and will face Purdue in the regional final on Monday. The Boilermakers advanced with a 74-72 victory over Texas Tech.

Tennessee (31-3), which was seeking its seventh national championship, bowed out in the round of 16 for the first time since losing in 1994 to fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech. Overall, the Lady Vols are 16-4 in the "Sweet 16."

Xavier, the Atlantic 10 Conference champion, opened a 10-point lead in the first half, then held off several Tennessee runs before pulling away in the final minutes.

The Musketeers matched Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky (1992) as the lowest seeds to beat the Lady Vols in the NCAA Tournament.

The loss was just Tennessee's 10th in the last four years. The Lady Vols made five Final Four appearances in the previous six years and captured three national titles.

But Tennessee looked vulnerable in its second-round win over St. Mary's before pulling away late and the absence of leading rebounder and scorer Tamika Catchings appeared to finally catch up with the Lady Vols. Catchings suffered a season-ending torn ACL on January 15 against Mississippi State.

Nicole Levandusky led five Xavier players in double figures with 19 points. Jennifer Phillips contributed 17 and Amy Waugh added 14 off the bench. Waugh missed 19 games earlier this season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

The Musketeers committed only nine turnovers and held Tennessee to just 38 percent (25-of-66) shooting from the field. Gwen Jackson scored 12 points and Ashley Robinson added 10 for the Lady Vols, who had been 15-10 against Atlantic 10 schools.

Levandusky hit a baseline jumper to give Xavier the lead for good, 60-58, with 7:58 remaining. Waugh was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and hit all three free throws to make it 63-58 and Tennessee got no closer than three thereafter.

After Michelle Snow's follow shot pulled Tennessee within 63-60, Xavier scored seven straight points to open a 70-60 lead.