Xavier, Villanova Set for Friday Night Matchup

Friday, February 26

Villanova, Pa.

9 P.M.

Xavier University

Villanova University

Xavier, Villanova Set for Friday Night Matchup

02.25.16 | Women's Basketball

Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's basketball travels to Villanova on Feb. 26 for the first of two BIG EAST road games this weekend. Friday's matchup will be aired nationally on FOX Sports 1 at 9 p.m.

The contest features the top two scoring defenses in the BIG EAST as the Wildcats rank first (57.9 ppg), while the the Musketeers (61.0 ppg) rank second, respectively.

Xavier enters the game with a 17-10 (8-8 BIG EAST) record to rank sixth in the conference standings. Villanova is in a three-way tie for second with a 17-10 (10-6 BIG EAST) record.

The Musketeers bring a four-game losing streak, their longest losing streak of the season, into Friday's contest and a 2-6 mark in road games. The Wildcats are coming off a three-game road swing, most recently defeating Georgetown, 63-60. Villanova is 7-3 at home this year.

SERIES HISTORY

• Villanova leads the all-time series with Xavier, 5-1. The Wildcats are 2-0 when playing the Musketeers at home.

LAST TIME OUT VS VILLANOVA

• Xavier defeated Villanova, 74-67, in overtime on New Year's Eve behind Maddison Blackwell and Raeshaun Gaffney who combined for 52 points.

• Maddison Blackwell finished the game with a career-high 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting while adding 12 rebounds. The junior forward's 11 field goals were the most by a Xavier player since Tyeasha Moss hit 11 on Jan. 28, 2012 versus Rhode Island.

• Raeshaun Gaffney added a career-high 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting. The junior guard was also 8-for-9 from the foul line, including 5-for-5 in overtime.

• Xavier had two players score 20 or more points in a game for the first time since March 1, 2015 versus St. John's.

NOTABLES

• Xavier made 19 free throws against Seton Hall, the fifth time the Musketeers have made 19 or more free throws in a game this season. Xavier ranks 48th nationally in free throws made (377).

• Xavier had four players in double figures against Seton Hall, the second time in the last three outings the Musketeer have had four players reach double figures. The Musketeers have had four players in double figures five times this season.

• Xavier held a 34-32 advantage on the glass against Seton Hall, out rebounding its opponent for the third straight game. The Musketeers have out rebounded their opponents 15 times this year.

• The Musketeers have solidified a winning record this season, the 22nd winning record for Xavier since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982-83.

• The Musketeers are one win away from matching their win total from a year ago with two regular-season contests and one conference tournament game remaining.

ZANTT"S SENIOR SUCCESS

• Aliyah Zantt's scoring output from her freshman season to her senior season has nearly doubled. She averaged 5.5 points per game as a freshman and is currently averaging 10.3 points per game.

• The senior guard's field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage have all increased each season since her freshman season.

• Zantt is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game from the point guard position, doubling her average from her freshman season (2.0 rpg). With a minimum of three games remaining this season, she already has also eclipsed her assists total from last season.

TURNER'S TURNING UP THE OFFENSE

• Marquia Turner has hit 62.5 percent of her shot attempts in her last four games, going 15-for-24 from the floor. She has also gone 6-for-12 from behind the arc.

• The sophomore guard is averaging 10 points per game over her last four outings. Turner was previously averaging 3.5 points per game. She matched her career high in scoring twice (14 points) during that span.

XU DEFENSE

• Xavier has held an opponent under 50 points five times this season. The Musketeers currently rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (61.0).

• Xavier is 12-3 when out rebounding its opponents this season. The Musketeers currently rank fourth in the BIG EAST in rebounding margin (+2.3).

BIG EAST HONORS

• Xavier has had a player earn BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honors nine times this year. Maddison Blackwell (Feb. 13), Raeshaun Gaffney (Jan. 4), Briana Glover (Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Jan. 25) and Aliyah Zantt (Dec. 28, Nov. 23, Feb. 1) have all been recognized.

1,000 POINT CLUB

• Senior Briana Glover became the 24th member of the Xavier 1,000-point club on Jan. 24 at St. John's with a layup late in the third quarter. She now has 1,069 career points.

• Senior Aliyah Zantt has 877 career points and could potentially eclipse the 1,000-point barrier during postseason action.

BIG EAST PLAY

• The Musketeers rank fifth in the BIG EAST standings with an 8-8 record, matching their win total from a year ago in conference play (8-10).

• Xavier is 2-5 in road conference games. The Musketeers have dropped four straight on the road in conference play and are looking for their first road BIG EAST win since a 62-54 victory at Providence.

• Maddison Blackwell ranks fourth in the conference in field-goal percentage during BIG EAST play, hitting 50.9 percent of her shot attempts. She has added 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT

• Xavier ends regular-season action at Georgetown on Sunday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m.

CHARITY STRIPE SUCCESS

• Xavier ranks third the conference in free-throw percentage (.732).

• Individually, Xavier has two players ranked in the top-10 in free-throw percentage: Briana Glover (2nd - .837) and Raeshaun Gaffney (8th - .754).

• Xavier has been able to put teams away late in the game due to its free-throw success. The Musketeers are 74-for-94 from the foul line in the final two minutes of play, while their opponents are 21-for-25. Raeshaun Gaffney is 38-for-47 from the foul line in the final two minutes of play.

RECORD WATCH

• Senior Aliyah Zantt has 192 career steals, ranking second all-time at Xavier.

• Senior Briana Glover ranks eighth all-time at Xavier in blocks (54), while Jenna Crittendon ranks ninth (52).

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• Xavier ranks eighth nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.4), while ranking 57th in free-throw percentage (.732) and 102nd in rebounding margin (+2.3).

• Individually, Briana Glover ranks 57th in free-throw percentage (.837).

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 214-78 record in 10 years as a head coach.

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

• 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.

• 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 10th nationally.

• Maddison Blackwell scored a career-high 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting versus Villanova. The junior forward's 11 field goals are the most by a Xavier player since Tyeasha Moss hit 11 on Jan. 28, 2012 versus Rhode Island.

• Aliyah Zantt pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds against Villanova, the most in a game by a XU player since Jenna Crittendon's 17 rebounds against Wright State on Dec. 15, 2012.

• 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.

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 195-65 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.