Homestand Continues Against Middle Tennessee State

Sunday, December 6

CINCINNATI, OHIO

2 P.M.

Xavier University

Middle Tennessee

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Homestand Continues Against Middle Tennessee State

12.05.15 | Women's Basketball

Musketeers, Blue Raiders slated for 2 p.m. contest on Sunday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's basketball looks to build on its four-game win streak on Sunday, playing host Middle Tennessee State. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.

The Musketeers enter the game with a 5-1 record, while the Blue Raiders are 3-3 on the year. Xavier is coming off a 64-47 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday and Middle Tennessee State is coming off an 86-55 win at Austin Peay on Nov. 30.

PROMOTION

• Fans who bring a teddy bear to donate to the Salvation Army or purchase one at the door receive free admission to Sunday's game.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers trail the all-time series, 6-4. Xavier has dropped three straight in the series and are looking for its first win in the series since a 65-52 win on Dec. 9, 2011 at MTSU.

NOTABLES

• Briana Glover posted the first double-double of the season by a Xavier player in the win over Tennessee Tech, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds. The senior forward has recorded two double-doubles in her career and has eclipsed the 20-point barrier three times.

• Xavier had a season-high 10 steals against the Golden Eagles, paced by Marquia Turner and Aliyah Zantt who both had three. Zantt leads XU with nine steals on the year.

• The Musketeers scored a season-high 21 points off of turnovers against Tennessee Tech. Xavier forced 17 turnovers in the win – the third time this season the Musketeers have forced their opponents to commit 17 miscues.

• Briana Glover was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the win over Tennessee Tech, improving to 15-for-17 from the charity stripe on the year. XU ranks second in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.752). Raeshaun Gaffney (.815) and Maddison Blackwell (.800) also rank in the top-seven in the conference in free-throw percentage.

• Briana Glover was also 3-for-4 from behind the arc versus Tennessee Tech, hitting three of the Musketeers four, three-pointers. The senior forward entered the contest 0-for-3 from three-point range.

• Xavier has not trailed in a game for nearly 160 minutes. The Musketeers last trailed in a game on Nov. 22 when Maryland Eastern Shore hit its opening basket of the game to take a 2-0 advantage. The Musketeers scored four straight points to take their first lead of the game.

• Xavier held an opponent under 50 points for the second time this season in the win over Tennessee Tech (64-47). The Musketeers rank second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (55.7).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 9 against Radford. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• Xavier ranks 27th nationally in rebounding margin (+10.3) and 32nd in free-throw percentage (.752).

• Individually, Marquia Turner ranks 50th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.50). Briana Glover also ranks 38th in free-throw percentage (.882).

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 202-69 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.

PRESESAON 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 184-62 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.

• The Musketeers will host the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against Cincinnati on Dec. 13. Xavier won last year's meeting, 72-71, at Cincinnati on Dec. 14. Xavier has won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two schools.

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

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.