Katlyn Anderson worked her way into the lane and kissed the ball off the board with 1:38 remaining to tie the game and hit her free throw to complete the three-point play to give Xavier a 45-44 lead Tuesday night.

That was the play of the night.

The Saints outscored Davenport Assumption 7-2 from there and gave Assumption its first loss of the season, 52-46, at Xavier.

“It was just a regular play,” said Anderson. “Just like we run in practice and I got fouled, too. I have to focus on free throws, I can’t make them bigger than they are, just shoot them.”

Xavier, ranked No .8 in Class 4A, raised its record to 9-2 heading into the holiday break. Assumption, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, fell to 6-1.

Kate Fennelly opened the fourth quarter of a tie game with consecutive 3-pointers for Assumption. Despite the 3-point barrage, the Saints hung in and turned up the defensive intensity. That intensity was just too much for the Knights.

“Our defense got us a number of fast-break baskets in the first half and that is just what we needed in the end,” explained Xavier Coach Tom Lilly. “Armstrong did a good job finishing tonight and I was really pleased that our kids didn’t fold in the heat of that fourth quarter.”

Anderson shared the scoring lead with Kayla Armstrong, each with 14 points. Armstrong repeatedly beat the Assumption defense down the court in the first half and finished with a layup. Two of Armstrong’s points were critical free throws down the stretch to help ice the victory.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and we had to make them work,” said Armstrong. “We focused on pressuring them, getting stops, and finishing on the other end.”

The game was a fast-moving, physical contest as the teams combined for 36 fouls. Danielle Moore led Assumption with 15 points and Fennelly added 11.

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (46): G. Fennelly 0 1-2 1, Moore 5 3-3 15, K. Fennelly 4 0-0 11, Schneden 4 0-0 8, Cabel 0 0-0 0, Binion 3 1-3 9, Pavlich 0 0-0 0, MK Fennelly 0 2-2 2, Ketelaar 0 0-0 0, Irmen 0 0-0 0, Herrig 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-10 46.

XAVIER (52): Armstrong 5 4-6 14, Dale 2 0-2 4, Anderson 4 5-5 14, Walvoord 1 0-0 2, Bartz 3 2-5 8, Noonan 0 0-0 0, Stulken 3 0-0 6, Dickes 0 1-2 1, Boomgarden 1 0-1 2, Winker 1 0-0 2, Bertsch 0 0-0 0, Deutmeyer 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 12-23 52.

Halftime — Xavier 30, Assumption 22. 3-point goals — Assumption 7 (Moore 2, K. Fennelly 3, Binion 2), Xavier 1 (Anderson). Fouled out - K. Fennelly.