Katie Hacker (Indianapolis, IN/Franklin Central) hit an early three from the right baseline to notch her 1,000th career point early in the contest, and finished the game with a team-leading 13, but it was not enough as IU South Bend (14-5/4-1 CCAC) was forced into 28 turnovers and fell 69-53 at the hands of third-ranked St. Xavier.
Tiffanie Graham (South Bend, IN/Riley [Southeastern Illinois]) added 11 points for IU South Bend, the only other player to reach double figures.
From the outset, the Cougars controlled the game, jumping out to an early 8-3 lead, and later extending that to a 16-8 advantage. The Titans answered with a run of their own, bringing the lead down to one point on several occasions before the halftime break, but each time, SXU was able to weather the storm, eventually holding a 33-29 lead at the half.
The second half started much like the first, with SXU extending their advantage again, but the Titans fought back once again, cutting the Cougar advantage to 44-43. IU South Bend would get no closer, however, as St. Xavier closed the contest on a 25-10 run to give them their final margin of victory.
Hacker led the way on the glass for the Titans as well, pulling down seven. With her entrance into the IU South Bend 1,000 point club, Hacker becomes just the 11th member of that exclusive group. She currently sits 11th on the list with 1,011 points - needing just 24 more to match Stephanie Campbell for 10th. Tiffany Crist currently tops all Titan players with 1,602 between 1993 and 1997.
The Titans return to action on Thursday, January 28 when they return home to the Student Activities Center to take on the Redhawks of IU-Northwest. That contest is slated to tip off at 7:00 PM.