No. 11 George Washington 67, Xavier 55

1/21/2007 4:12 PM

CINCINNATI (AP) -Kenan Cole scored 15 points to lead No. 11 George Washington to a 67-55 victory over Xavier on Sunday, the Colonials' ninth straight win.

Jessica Adair added a career-high 15 rebounds and 11 points, Whitney Allen scored 14 points and Kimberly Beck had 13 for George Washington (16-2, 5-0 Atlantic 10). The Colonials equaled their longest streak since winning nine in a row during the 2004-05 season.

The Musketeers (14-6, 2-2) lost for the second time in eight games. Freshman Amber Harris led Xavier with 24 points after being held scoreless in the first 17 minutes. Joei Clyburn scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds, and Suntana Granderson added 12 points.

Xavier was within three points with 15:07 left when Allen made three field goals and Beck one in an 8-0 spurt in two minutes to put the Colonials in control at 41-30.

Harris scored nine of Xavier's next 12 points to pull within 47-42 with seven minutes to go, but Cole made three free throws and Beck hit a 3-pointer to build the lead back to 53-42 with five minutes remaining.

Xavier got no closer than eight the rest of the game.

George Washington, the best defensive team in the Atlantic 10, held the Musketeers to 26 percent shooting in the first half. The Colonials built a 10-point lead with a 13-4 run, but Harris tallied five points in a 6-2 run that closed the half with George Washington ahead 26-21.