Women's Basketball | 11/26/21 | 5:53 PM

Box Score HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team defeated Saint Xavier University 71-61, Friday afternoon in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

The Saints were able to handle the fifteenth-ranked Cougars in their first game of the Juliet Costello Memorial Classic, getting back on track after a tough loss on Wednesday to fourth-ranked Thomas More.

Carroll found themselves in a hole early, with the Cougars jumping out to a 22-15 lead in the first quarter, where they shot nearly 50 percent from the field. The Saints narrowed the lead down slightly heading into the half, 31-36, and managed to pull away in the fourth quarter to secure the ten-point victory.

Fifth-year Senior Christine Denny carried the load for the Saints, recording a stellar double-double that included a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Danielle Wagner also had an impressive afternoon with 14 points and 7 rebounds.

It was a total team effort offensively for Carroll, with 4 of the 5 starters tallying double-digit points, and several others coming close to that mark as well.

Claire Austin lead the Cougars with a double-double of her own, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Saints will have a quick turn-around for the second leg of the tournament, as they play Lindsey Wilson College tomorrow morning at 10 am MDT, before heading back to Montana.