The Xavier Saints defended their home court and wrested a 37-36 victory from the fourth-ranked Iowa City Little Hawks  on Dec. 14 in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ basketball game at Xavier.

The 10th ranked Saints (8-0, 5-0) won a see-saw defensive battle that was decided by a free throw with 19 seconds remaining by Emily Walvoord, completing a three-point play.

Xavier Coach Tom Lilly cycled his players in and out throughout the game at a feverish pace, keeping the pressure on a City High team that held a slim 19-18 margin at the half.

“We ran like we needed to run,” Lilly said. “I don’t think we wanted to get in a half-court battle with Iowa City because they’ve got some size.”

The result was a messy skirmish that saw as many turnovers as shots made.

“Both teams had an excessive amount of turnovers,” Lilly said. “It wasn’t a pretty floor game.”

But it got the job done for the Saints. With Xavier double- and triple-teaming City High all-stater Virginia Johnson, City High’s Kayla Hyche broke free to score seven quick points at the end of the third period, giving City High a 30-27 advantage.

The Little Hawks clawed their way to a five-point lead in the final period, but the Saints’ Krissi Tow scored five points to bring Xavier within two at 36-34 in the final minute. Her shot to tie the game missed, but Walvoord snared the rebound, scored quickly and drew a foul.

“We all were just working together really well,” said Walvoord, who led Xavier with 12 points and six rebounds. “Kristi went up with the shot and I was just in the right place at the right time.”

At that point, she said, “My teammates just told me to breathe and say a little prayer.”

Her prayer was answered with the game-winning free throw.

Xavier’s Alex Saxen, who drew the task of defending the Little Hawks’ star player, held Johnson to 16 points, seven below her average.

Xavier visits Iowa City West on Friday. Iowa City High (6-2, 3-2) plays at Kennedy the same night.

IOWA CITY (36): Kiera Washpun 2 1-2 5, Mickey Hansche 2 0-0 4, Kelsey Coleman 0 0-0 0, Virginia Johnson 8 0-3 16, Kayla Hyche 4 0-0 9, Haley Lorenzen 0 0-0 0, Harper Beasley 1 0-0 2, Sierra Chambers 0 0-0 0, Erin Danielson. Totals 17 1-5 36.

XAVIER (37): Annie Dale 2 1-1 5, Alex Saxen 2 0-0 4, Tyler Sampson 1 0-0 2, Emily Walvoord 5 2-3 12, Krissi Tow 4 1-2 9, Katlyn Andersen 1 3-4 5, Sarah Dickes 0 0-0 0, Lisa Boomgarden 0 0-0 0, Alex Bartz 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-10 37.

Halftime – Iowa City High 19, Xavier 18. 3-point goals – City High 1 (Hyche 1), Xavier 0.