Xavier University Athletics
Musketeers Set to Play Siena in WBI Quarterfinals
03.21.15 | Women's Basketball
March 21, 2015
Game Notes
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CINCINNATI - Xavier plays host Siena in the Women's Basketball Invitational Quarterfinals on Sunday, March 22. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.
THE OPENING TIP
• The Musketeers moved to 18-14 on the year following their win over William & Mary on Thursday night. Xavier now has 10 more wins than a year ago and has solidified the school's first winning season since the 2010-11 campaign.
• Sunday's game will be the first meeting in school history between Siena and Xavier.
• Siena moved to 20-12 on the year following its WBI victory over Stony Brook, 53-46, on Thursday evening. The Saints are 11-3 on the road this season, ranked tied for seventh nationally in road wins entering the week.
• Siena has also seen significant improvement from a year ago, winning 11 more games than last season to post the school's first winning campaign in 11 years.
• Xavier and Siena had two common opponents this season in Binghamton and Monmouth. The Musketeers defeated both schools once, while Siena went 2-0 against Monmouth and 1-0 against Binghamton.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Musketeers are coming off a 57-56 win over William & Mary in the opening round of the WBI - the school's first appearance in the postseason tournament. Xavier used a 17-5 run over the final five minutes capped by a Jenna Crittendon layup with 14 seconds on the clock to seal the victory.
FASTBREAK POINTS
• Briana Glover was one of three players in double figures versus the Tribe, scoring a game-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting - her second game of the year with 20 or more points. The junior forward has scored in double figures 21 times this year.
• Briana Glover has hit 52.6 percent (131-of-249) of her shot attempts this year to lead the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage. She also ranks eighth in the conference in free-throw percentage (.723).
• Raeshaun Gaffney scored 16 points versus William & Mary, including seven points in the final five minutes of play. The sophomore guard ranks second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and free-throw percentage (.759). She also ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage.
• Xavier outscored the Tribe in the paint, 42-30, on Thursday night. The Musketeers have scored 40 or more points in the paint in three games this season.
• Aliyah Zantt had her six game streak of scoring in double figures snapped versus William & Mary. The junior guard scored five points on 2-of-8 shooting and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
• The Musketeers hit 50 percent (25-of-50) of their shot attempts against the Tribe. Xavier has posted a .500 field-goal percentage or higher in five games this season.
• Jenna Crittendon scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting versus the Tribe, her 13th game of the year in double figures. The junior guard ranks fourth on the team in scoring (7.9 ppg).
• Leah Schaefer has averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in her last three outings. The sophomore forward went 8-for-12 from the floor in those games, while dishing out a team-high 10 assists.
• Xavier only had two points off the bench against William & Mary, its fewest points off the bench this season.
• Xavier moved to 12-1 on the year when leading at the half versus the Tribe. The Musketeers also improved to 6-2 in games decided between 1-4 points.
• The Musketeers rank tied for first in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.309), while ranking third in rebounding defense (37.2) and steals (8.0). Xavier also ranks third in free-throw percentage (.710).
• The Musketeers hit 54.2 percent of its shot attempts in the second half versus William & Mary. On the year, Xavier has posted a higher field-goal percentage in the second half of games this season than the first half (.428 vs .391).
POSTSEASON HISTORY
• Xavier is 12-14 all-time in postseason action. The Musketeers are 3-4 in WNIT play and 8-10 in NCAA Tournament action. XU is now 1-0 in WBI play following its win over William & Mary.
YEAR TWO UNDER COACH NEAL
• Xavier has made improvements in year two under head coach Brian Neal. Most notably, the Musketeers have 10 more wins than a year ago (18-14 vs 8-23).
• The Musketeers have four more road wins than a year ago (5-8 vs 1-11). XU also is 12-5 at home this season, its first double-figure home win total since 2010-11.
• Brian Neal has posted a 197-68 overall career record. He also has an 87-30 mark in career conference games.
NCAA DIVISION I WIN IMPROVEMENT
• The Musketeers have a 10-win improvement from a year ago, ranking tied for ninth in the nation in win improvement (thru games played on March 21). Ohio has won 18 more games than a year ago to lead the nation.
ZANTT STEPS UP TO PLAY POINT GUARD
• With three point guards sidelined for the remainder of the season with injuries, Aliyah Zantt has stepped up to help her team. The versatile shooting guard moved into the point-guard role in mid-February after Maleeka Kynard, the team's third leading scorer, was injured.
• In her last seven games, Zantt has averaged 14.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The junior guard has hit 47.7 percent of her shot attempts (36-of-76) and 40 percent of her three pointers (14-of-35).
• Zantt has added 15 steals and 14 assists in her last seven outings. The junior guard was only averaging 4.2 points per game before she hit double figures for the first time this year at Villanova on Feb. 14.
PLAYING AT CINTAS CENTER
• Xavier is 12-5 at home this season and has won two straight at Cintas Center. The Musketeers are 3-2 in their last five home games.
• The Musketeers are averaging 64.5 points per game at home with a .405 field-goal percentage. Raeshaun Gaffney (11.1 ppg) and Briana Glover (11.1 ppg) lead the team in scoring at home.
• Xavier is limiting its opponents to 59.4 points per game when playing at home this season. The Musketeers have held opponents to 54 or fewer points this year on six occasions.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
• The Saints appearance in the WBI is their fifth Division I national postseason tournament appearance and first in 12 years. Siena is 3-4 all-time in national postseason tournament play.
• Siena now has 20 wins on the season, the school's 13th overall 20-win season and first in 12 years. The Saints have won six of their last seven games.
• Tehresa Coles and Margot Hetzke lead the team in scoring as both players average 13.3 points per game, while Hetzke paces the team on the glass with 7.5 rebounds per game. Hetzke was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year and Coles was tabbed MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.
RECORD WATCH
• Xavier has hit 71 percent of its free throws this season, ranking fourth in single-season school history. The Musketeers also rank sixth in free throws made (436-of-614).
• Maleeka Kynard has hit 85.2 percent of her free throws this season, ranking fourth in Xavier single-season history.
• Xavier is two steals away from cracking into the school's top-10 chart for single-season team steals. The squad's 8.0 steals per game average ranks 11th.
UP NEXT
• If Xavier defeats Siena, the Musketeers will face the winner of the Marshall/Mercer in the WBI Semifinals at Cintas Center on Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m.
