Zantt, Fourth-Quarter Defense Leads Musketeers Over Butler

Friday, January 29

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

15-6, 6-4

Butler University

7-14, 2-8

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Butler	12	17	17	1	47
Xavier	14	12	15	14	55

Zantt, Fourth-Quarter Defense Leads Musketeers Over Butler

01.29.16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Aliyah Zantt matched her career high with 24 points

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Aliyah Zantt matched her career high in scoring with 24 points and the Musketeers held Butler without a field goal in the final quarter as Xavier picked up a BIG EAST win on Friday night. The Musketeers defeated the Bulldogs, 55-47, to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 15-6 (6-4 BIG EAST).

Xavier captured the season series with Butler as the Bulldogs dropped to 7-14 (2-8 BIG EAST) on the year. Butler has now lost six games in a row.

Zantt was 8-for-15 from the floor and knocked down a career high six, three pointers. The senior guard added four assists and three steals.

After trailing 46-41 at the end of the third quarter, the Musketeers outscored Butler, 14-1, in the fourth quarter for the come-from-behind victory. Xavier held Butler to 0-for-16 shooting in the fourth quarter.

Jenna Crittendon added nine points, while Briana Glover chipped in eight. Maddison Blackwell and Raeshaun Gaffney both finished with six points.

Xavier won the battle on the glass, 47-43, with two Musketeers pulling down 10 or more rebounds. Blackwell had a game-high 13 rebounds, while Leah Schaefer had 11.

Xavier opened the game on a 9-0 run on 4-for-4 and led by as many as 10 points, 14-4, in the first quarter - its largest lead of the night. Butler outscored the Musketeers, 8-0, over the final 2:43 of the quarter to make the score, 14-12.

The Bulldogs went 5-for-9 from the floor to open the second quarter to take their first lead of the game, 25-23, with 3:49 on the clock. Butler led by as many as five, 27-23, late in the half and took a 29-26 advantage into the locker room.

Butler led by as many as six points, 46-40, with 1:18 left in the third quarter before the Musketeers held the Bulldogs without a field for the remainder of the game.

Xavier forced 14 turnovers, turning the miscues into 17 points. Xavier had nine steals on the night with Blackwell and Zantt both collecting three.

Butler had two players post double-doubles in Belle Obert and Brittany Ward. Obert had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Ward adding 15 points and 11 rebounds. Blaire Langlois dished out a game-high seven assists.

Xavier concludes its three-game homestand next weekend, playing host to Providence (Feb. 5) and Creighton (Feb. 7).