Musketeers Host Georgetown in BIG EAST Opener

Tuesday, December 29

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

Georgetown University

Tickets

Musketeers Host Georgetown in BIG EAST Opener

12.28.15 | Women's Basketball

Tuesday’s matchup features the top two rebounding teams in the conference

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier opens its 18-game BIG EAST schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 29 against Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

Tuesday's matchup features the top two rebounding teams in the BIG EAST as the Musketeers pace the conference in rebounding margin (+6.9), while the Hoyas rank second (+4.8), respectively.

Xavier enters the game with a 9-2 record and a four-game win streak, most recently defeating Kennesaw State on Dec. 21. Georgetown is 7-3 on the year and is coming off an 82-46 win over Towson on Dec. 23. A win on Tuesday would double the Hoyas win total from a year ago as Georgetown finished the 2014-15 season with a 4-27 record.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• Senior Aliyah Zantt was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Dec. 28 for the second time this season after helping the Musketeers finish non-conference play with a 62-59 win over Kennesaw State on Dec. 21. She previously earned the honors on Nov. 23.

• The guard scored a career-high 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including a 3-for-5 mark from three-point range. She was also 5-for-7 from the foul line. Zantt added four added four assists, three steals and three rebounds in the win.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier leads the all-time series with Georgetown, 5-2. The Musketeers have won three straight in the series and are 3-0 at home versus the Hoyas.

LAST TIME OUT VS GU

• Xavier posted a 3-0 record against the Hoyas last year, including a 70-67 win on March 7 in the BIG EAST Tournament – the Musketeers first BIG EAST Conference Tournament win.

• Xavier averaged 64.3 points per game in the series and hit 40.1 percent of its shot attempts. The Musketeers also made 26 more free throws (54-28).

• Raeshaun Gaffney averaged 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game against the Hoyas last year. Briana Glover added 10.7 points per game, while Aliyah Zantt chipped in 10.3 points and six rebounds per game.

NOTABLES

• Xavier committed a season-low five turnovers against Kennesaw State, the fewest in a game since the Musketeers had four miscues against Temple on March 4, 2007. The Musketeer backcourt had zero turnovers on the day.

• Jada Byrd scored a career-high eight points on 4-for-4 shooting against Kennesaw State. She added two rebounds and one block in 14 minutes of action.

• Xavier is 0-2 in BIG EAST openers, both coming on the road. The Musketeers are looking for their first conference-opening win since a 63-59 win over Dayton on Jan. 9, 2011.

• Briana Glover scored 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting against Kennesaw State, her fourth straight game in double figures and her seventh game of the season with 10 or more points.

CHARITY STRIPE SUCCESS

• The Musketeers were 12-for-16 from the foul line in the win over Kennesaw State. Xavier ranks second in the conference in free-throw percentage (.754).

• Individually, Raeshaun Gaffney ranks third in free-throw percentage (.833) and Briana Glover ranks seventh (.781).

• Xavier has been able to put teams away late in the game due to its free-throw success. The Musketeers are 31-for-37 from the foul line in the final two minutes of play, while their opponents are 6-for-8.

DOMINATING DEFENSE

• Xavier leads the conference in scoring defense (55.8) and rebounding margin (+6.8), while ranking second in rebounding defense (34.4).

• The Musketeers are limiting their opponents to 52.2 points per game when playing at Cintas Center. Xavier has held an opponent to 47 or fewer points three times at home this season.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• Xavier ranks 22nd in free-throw percentage (.754), 14th nationally in fewest personal fouls per game (13.8) and 40th in scoring defense (55.8). The Musketeers also rank 56th in rebounding margin (+6.9).

• Individually, Marquia Turner ranks 23rd nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.58). Raeshaun Gaffney also ranks 74th in free-throw percentage (.833).

UP NEXT

• Xavier concludes an 11-game homestand against Villanova on Thursday, Dec. 31. Tip-off is slated for 1:30 p.m.

NEAL RECORDS WIN NO. 200

• Head coach Brian Neal picked up his 200th career victory in the win over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 25. He has compiled a 206-70 record in 10 years as a head coach.

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

• Sophomore Marquia Turner dished out a career-high eight assists in the win over Maryland Eastern Shore, the most by a Xavier player since Ty O'Neill had eight versus High Point on Nov. 19, 2012.

• Anniina Äijänen pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. The 15 rebounds are the most in a game since Jenna Crittendon had 17 against Wright State on Dec. 15, 2012.

• Xavier held Southeastern Louisiana to 27 points, the fewest allowed by the Musketeers since defeating Maryville, 67-21, on Dec. 5, 1980. The 40-point win is also the largest margin of victory since Nov. 30, 2010 when the Musketeers topped Mississippi Valley State, 85-40.

• Xavier also pulled down 64 rebounds in the win over Southeastern Louisiana, the second most in school history. The Musketeers had 68 rebounds against Wright State on Feb. 12, 1976. The 64 rebounds are the most by a BIG EAST team this season, while ranking sixth nationally.

PRESEASON POLL

• Xavier was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll as announced at the conference's annual media day at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 14.

THE SCHEDULE

• Xavier will play 19 games at Cintas Center this season, the most in school history. The Musketeers previously set the record last year when they hosted 18 games, including two postseason tournament contests.

• Xavier has posted a 189-62 overall record at Cintas Center since the building opened in 2000.

• The Musketeers posted a 12-6 mark at home last year, the team's 10th season with 10 or more wins inside Cintas Center.

• Xavier faced four teams this season for the first time in school history (Maryland-Eastern Shore, Southeastern Louisiana, Tennessee Tech and Radford).

XU BASKETBALL HISTORY

• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.

• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.

• The Musketeers have posted a .500 or better record 21 times since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982-83.

BIG EAST DIGITAL NETWORK

• Every BIG EAST women's basketball game that will not be carried on FOX Sports 1 or FOX Sports 2 will be aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN).

• The BEDN launched in 2014-15 with its own branded channel on the FOX Sports GO app. The league is the first and only collegiate conference to be hosted on FOX's mobile platform, FOX Sports Go. The app provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go.

NATIONAL BROADCASTS

• Xavier will play four nationally broadcasts games this season via FOX. The Musketeers will play three games on FOX Sports 1 and one on FOX Sports 2.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

• DePaul's McGrath-Phillips Arena will serve as the host site of the 2016 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament as voted on by the conference's athletic directors. The tournament will be held on March 5-8 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Chicago.