NASHVILLE – Sophomore forward Veronica Bafia (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) recorded her third double-double of the season, collecting a game-high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting and a season-best 12 rebounds (five offensive) to help lead Saint Xavier University women's basketball (9-4, 5-1 CCAC) to a 68-55 non-conference victory over Fisk University (Tenn.) Thursday evening in Nashville, Tenn. Bafia added two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in 34 minutes of action. She also made her lone three-point attempt and was 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. The Cougars shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) from the field, their second-best shooting effort so far this season, and they are now 5-0 when shooting better than 40.0 percent on the year.

SXU held a narrow 12-10 lead in the latter stages of the first quarter after Fisk made a pair of foul shots at the 3:46 mark. Bafia scored the next three points, splitting two free-throws and making a layup on the next possession to fuel an 18-0 run that lasted until midway through the second period, holding a 30-10 lead with 5:31 to go until halftime. Saint Xavier cooled off a bit in the frame, carrying a 32-23 advantage into the break. The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, tying the game at 46-46 on two foul shots to end the period. That would be as close as FU would get as Bafia converted an 'Old-fashioned' three-point play early in the fourth quarter to break the tie. The Cougar defense limited Fisk to only nine points in the frame to secure the road win.

• Freshman guard Brooklynn Johnson (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) totaled 12 points, going 5-for-9 from the floor, with six rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of play.
• Senior guard Jaidn Green (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) tallied 12 points as well, making five of her 10 shots with a team-best three assists and a pair of steals in 31 minutes.
• Freshman forward Alaina Peetz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) collected six points, six rebounds, a team-leading three steals and a block in 27 minutes on the court.
• Sophomore guard Maeve Egan (Chicago, Ill./Marist) came away with six points, four rebounds (three offensive), two assists and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench.
• Freshman guard Taryn Fisher (Westfield, Ind./Carmel) made her first collegiate start, finishing with three points, two assists, two rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Saint Xavier (9-4/5-1 CCAC) makes its way to Lebanon, Tenn. to play Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Saturday, December 20. The game is slated for a 2:00 pm tip-off.