IOWA CITY — The difference between No. 6 and No.7 was 15 points Friday night (Dec. 17).

Sixth-ranked Iowa City West handed seventh-ranked Xavier its first loss of the season, 53-38, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ basketball game in Iowa City.

 Krissi Tow led the Saints (8-1, 5-1) with 18 points. McKenzie Piper topped West (7-0, 5-0) with 14 points.

XAVIER (38): Dale 1 1-3 3, Sampson 0 2-3 2, Saxen 0 2-4 2, Walvoord 4 1-2 9, Tow 7 4-6 18, Bartz 0 0-0 0, Dickes 0 0-0 0, Anderson 0 2-2 2, Winker 0 2-2 2. Totals 12 14-22 38.

IOWA CITY WEST (53): Williams 2 0-0 4, Disterhoff 1 4-6 6, Sturtz 2 0-0 6, Stumpff 3 3-4 10, Shull 3 0-2 7, Klein 1 0-0 3, Piper 5 2-2 14, Toder 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 9-14 53.

Halftime — Iowa City West 32, Xavier 15. 3-point goals — Xavier 0; Iowa City West 8 (Piper 2, Sturtz 2, Stumpff, Shull, Klein, Yoder).