Xavier is difficult enough to guard when Ta'Shia Phillips and Amber Harris are scoring inside. If the Musketeers are making 3-pointers too, they're almost impossible to stop.
Katie Rutan made seven 3-pointers, scoring all 22 of her points in the first half, then No. 5 Xavier took advantage of its height advantage in the second, holding off Michigan 85-76 Monday night.
''I don't blame them. They were going to sit in there and try to take away our post players,'' Xavier coach Kevin McGuff said. ''But we've got people that can score from the perimeter, obviously. That's what Katie's supposed to do.''
Xavier (2-0) made 13 3-pointers as the Wolverines tried to take away the 6-foot-6 Phillips and 6-foot-5 Harris inside. Michigan (1-1) succeeded for a while, but Phillips eventually finished with 18 points and Harris had 16.
The Musketeers appeared to be pulling away when they led 70-56, but Michigan responded with a 15-3 run. The Wolverines had a chance to tie it, but Veronica Hicks missed an open shot from the baseline.
Phillips and Harris led an 8-0 run by Xavier that made it 83-73.
''Their defense is something that we're used to seeing - packing it in on the inside,'' Phillips said. ''We have confidence in each other and in our teammates.''
Xavier, which reached the NCAA quarterfinals last season, has won 17 straight regular-season games.
The Musketeers led 47-44 after an entertaining first half in which they shot 10 of 19 from 3-point range. Michigan shot 61 percent from the field but still trailed.
Wolverines coach Kevin Borseth said his team was playing good defense, but it was no use.
''We had three mistakes in the first half. That's it,'' Borseth said. ''Three mistakes, and they hit three 3s. We made three mistakes. They buried all three.''
Rutan didn't attempt a shot from inside 3-point range - except a free throw she made for a four-point play after being fouled while making a shot from just behind the top of the key.
''The more shots I made the more confidence I had,'' she said.
Hicks led Michigan with 22 points, and the Wolverines made 12 3-pointers of their own.
Harris tried to add another highlight in the first half, but she missed a dunk attempt. She went 3 of 9 in the half, and Phillips was held to only one field goal attempt as both teams put on an impressive display from behind the arc.
''Fun for the fans to watch - one 3 buried after another,'' Borseth said. ''Both teams played extremely well, shot extremely well.''
Michigan won at Xavier last season when the Musketeers were ranked 12th in the nation.
