CHICAGO – Junior guard Aaliyahna Derrell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sand Creek) sank four three-pointers (4-for-9) and finished with a team-best 15 points however the Saint Xavier University women's basketball team (5-6, 4-1 CCAC) lost to No. 13 Dakota State University (S.D.) in a non-conference contest Friday evening on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill. Derrell was 5-for-11from the field and added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in a team-leading 35 minutes on the court. SXU trailed 37-31 at halftime but Dakota State pulled away in the second half, making 11-of-20 three-point attempts and they were 18-for-39 overall, the most threes by an opponent against the Cougars this season.

• Junior forward Alyssa Crenshaw (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) shot at a 75.0 percent clip (6-for-8) with 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes.
• Sophomore center Eleanor Harris (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) also finished in double-figures for Saint Xavier, collecting 12 points. She also had six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
• Sophomore guard Jaidn Green (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) posted nine points, two assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Junior guard Jenna Hernandez (Homer Glen, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) also had nine points on 3-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc, along with two assists.
• Green started the game with a three from straight away on an assist from Harris and the first quarter would be close with DSU taking the largest lead, 17-10, at the 3:04 mark. SXU trailed 22-16 after the first 10 minutes and was outshot by the Trojans 53.3 percent (8-for-15) to 37.5 percent (6-for-16). Harris tallied six points in the quarter, while Green added five points.
• The Cougars knocked down 5-of-9 treys in the second period to keep pace as they went into the locker room down 37-31. Both Derrell and Hernandez made two three-pointers, and Crenshaw pulled down four rebounds.
• Back-to-back threes put Dakota State up 43-33 in the first minute of the third period, however Saint Xavier went on an 11-3 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to a 46-44 after a sequence that saw Harris score off a pass from Derrell and Harris would come away with a steal and a fast-break layup with 5:30 to go. DSU responded with a 17-5 run to end the frame. Crenshaw was perfect from the floor in the third quarter, making all four of her shot attempts and adding a foul shot, scoring nine of her 13 points.
• The Trojans kept a double-digit lead in the period and held their largest lead of the game, 78-59, with 2:46 left in regulation. SXU finished the game on a 10-0 run as they were 7-for-12 from the field in the final quarter with Derrell scoring eight of her 15 points after playing all 10 minutes.

Saint Xavier (5-6/4-1 CCAC) has a quick turnaround as they host Waldorf University (Iowa) at the Shannon Center on Saturday, December 30. The game is slated for a 1:00 pm start.