Gary, Ind. – Behind a career-best 24 points from junior guard Aaliyahna Derrell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sand Creek), the Saint Xavier University women's basketball team (12-9, 10-4 CCAC) earned an 84-69 victory over Indiana University Northwest in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) matchup Saturday afternoon at the Savannah Center in Gary, Ind. Derrell was 3-for-7 from beyond the arc and shot 90.0 percent (9-for-10) from the foul line to eclipse the 20-point plateau. She added a game-best eight assists, three rebounds and a steal in 38 minutes of action.

The Cougars carried a 26-16 lead after the first period by shooting 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from the field. Junior forward Alyssa Crenshaw (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) broke an 8-8 tie off a pass from Derrell at the 6:41 mark of the opening frame and did not trail in the rest of the contest after the score was tied four times to start the game. Crenshaw finished with nine points in the quarter. SXU maintained its lead at halftime with a 40-36 advantage. Saint Xavier built its largest lead of the game, 51-36, with 6:53 left in the third quarter after a layup by sophomore center Eleanor Harris (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North), however IUN closed the period on a 15-6 run to cut the deficit to 57-51. The Cougars kept a two-possession lead the rest of the way to come away with the road victory and they improve to 6-3 away from the Shannon Center.

• Crenshaw recorded her team-leading sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds. She shot 60.0 percent (6-for-10) from the floor and was 6-for-6 from the foul line, while adding a pair of assists in 34 minutes.
• Harris shot at a 72.7 percent clip (8-for-11) with 17 points, five rebounds, a game-high three blocks and a team-best two steals.
• Junior guard Jenna Hernandez (Homer Glen, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) collected nine points after draining three treys (3-for-9), three rebounds and a steal.
• Sophomore guard Jaidn Green (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) chipped in seven points, two assists and a steal
• Junior forward Sofie Carr (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) pulled down six rebounds, along with three points, an assist and a blocked shot.

Saint Xavier (12-9/10-4 CCAC) travels to the Goodman Center to face Roosevelt University (Ill.) in CCAC action on Wednesday, February 7 in Chicago, Ill. The game is slated for a 5:30 pm start.