Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout Set for Sunday

Sunday, December 13

CINCINNATI, OHIO

5 P.M.

Xavier University

Cincinnati

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Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout Set for Sunday

12.12.15 | Women's Basketball

Xavier has won eight of the last 11 meetings vs Cincinnati

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's basketball plays host to the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Sunday evening, taking on rival Cincinnati in the 38th meeting between the two schools.

The Musketeers enter the contest with a 6-2 record, most recently defeating Radford, 63-56, on Dec. 9. Cincinnati is 3-4 on the year, most recently dropping a 105-76 contest against Ohio State on Dec. 6 – the team's fourth straight loss.

PROMOTIONS

• The first 500 fans will receive a Xavier ugly sweater t-shirt.

• Santa will be in attendance for photos on the concourse.

• Fans can get in free with their men's basketball Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout ticket from Saturday's game.

SERIES HISTORY

• Cincinnati holds a 23-14 advantage in the all-time series, but the Musketeers have won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two schools. Xavier is 7-11 against Cincinnati at home and 3-4 when playing at Cintas Center.

LAST MEETING VS UC

• Xavier won last year's meeting at Cincinnati, 72-71, on Dec. 14. The Bearcats had their largest lead of the game, 53-46, with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Musketeers responded by going on a 13-4 run over the next four minutes to regain a 59-57 lead they would never relinquish. Jenna Crittendon hit two clutch three pointers down the stretch to put the Bearcats away.

SERIES NOTES VS UC

• A win on Sunday would give Xavier's senior class (Briana Glover, Jenna Crittendon and Aliyah Zantt) a 3-1 record versus the Bearcats.

• Two of the last three meetings have been decided by two or fewer points. A total of 17 games in the rivalry have been decided by 10 or fewer points.

• Sunday's matchup will be the 13th meeting in December. The series is tied, 6-6, when playing in the month of December.

NOTABLES

• A Xavier win on Sunday would make the Musketeers 7-2 on the year, the team's best start through nine games since going 9-0 to start the 2010-11 season.

• Xavier committed a season-low nine turnovers in the win over Radford, the fewest turnovers in a game since the Musketeers had eight miscues on Feb. 22, 2014 at Providence.

• The Musketeers had three players in double figures for the first time this season against Radford: Raeshaun Gaffney (16), Briana Glover (12) and Aliyah Zantt (17).

• Xavier hit 47.1 percent of its shot attempts against Radford, a new season high. The Musketeers also hit 50 percent of their shot attempts in the first half to match their season high for best field-goal percentage in a half.

• Xavier scored 32 points in the paint against Radford, matching its season high.

CHARITY STRIPE SUCCESS

• The Musketeers were 11-for-12 from the foul line in the win over Radford. Xavier ranks second in the conference in free-throw percentage (.758).

• Individually, Briana Glover ranks second in free-throw percentage (.850) and Raeshaun Gaffney ranks fourth (.829).

• Xavier has been able to put teams away late in the game due to its free-throw success. The Musketeers are 27-for-32 from the foul line in the final two minutes of play, while their opponents are 4-for-6.

DOMINATING DEFENSE

• Xavier ranks in the top three of four major defensive categories in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers lead the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (.267), while raking second in scoring defense (56.5 ppg) and rebounding margin (+5.6) and third in rebounding defense (35.8 rpg).

• The Musketeers are limiting their opponents to 51.4 points per game when playing at Cintas Center.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• Xavier ranks 20th nationally in fewest personal fouls per game (14.1), 22nd in free-throw percentage (.758) and 78th in rebounding margin (+5.6).

• Individually, Marquia Turner ranks 31st nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.67). Raeshaun Gaffney also ranks 106th in free-throw percentage (.829).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 19 against Howard. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. from Cintas Center.

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 203-70 record in 10 years as a head coach.

WEEKLY HONORS

• Senior Briana Glover was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon. She earns the recognition for the first time this season and is the second Musketeer to pick up the weekly honors as Aliyah Zantt was tabbed to the honor roll on Nov. 23.

• The Mason, Ohio, native averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game last week as the Musketeers went 1-1. She hit 44.4 percent of shot attempts and went 4-fo-7 from behind the arc after entering the week 0-for-3 from three-point range. Glover was also 8-for-9 from the foul line.

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 186-62 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.