CHICAGO – Hitting 58 percent of its shot attempts (21-for-36) and scoring 50 points in the second half, the No. 11 ranked Saint Xavier University women's basketball team overcame a slow start to take down Roosevelt University (Ill.), 81-61, in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action Saturday afternoon at the Shannon Center in Chicago.  It is the ninth straight victory for the Cougars, who improve to 16-3 overall and 11-3 in the conference standings.  The Lakers drop to 16-5 on the season with the loss and are now also 11-3 in CCAC play.  Sophomore guard/forward Morgan Stuut (Marcellus, Mich./Three Rivers) had another monster performance for SXU posting game-bests of 25 points and 19 rebounds.  Freshman forward Caitlin McMahon (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) also notched a double-double effort for the Cougars with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Suzie Broski (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) finished in double figures in scoring for Saint Xavier chipping in 16 points on efficient 8-for-16 shooting (50 percent) from the floor.  Senior point guard Romisha Taylor (Chicago, Ill./Von Stueben) proved key to SXU's offensive success on the afternoon as well with eight points and game-best seven assists.  Roosevelt was paced by junior guard Casey Davis with 17 points, while junior guard Tori Clark finished with 11 points and team-leading 11 rebounds.  It was not a smooth start for the Cougars with the hosts hitting just 30 percent (11-for-37) of their first-half shot attempts and falling behind by as many as six points on multiple occasions.  SXU trailed by five, 36-31, at the halftime break, but came out with a renewed energy in the second half opening the frame with a 20-1 run.  Leading 51-37 with 12 minutes remaining in the game, the Cougars maintained their double-digit advantage the rest of the way going ahead by as many as 22 points, 76-54, in the closing minutes. 

Saint Xavier (16-3 overall/11-3 CCAC) takes on CCAC rival Trinity Christian College (Ill.) on Wednesday, January 16, at the Shannon Center.  The game is set to tip-off at 5 p.m.