Strong Second Half Performance Leads Xavier to Seventh-Straight Win

Tuesday, January 5

Indianapolis, Ind.

7 P.M.

Xavier University

12-2 3-0BIGEAST

Butler University

6-8 1-2BIG EAST

Xavier

Butler

Strong Second Half Performance Leads Xavier to Seventh-Straight Win

01.05.16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Musketeers move to 3-0 in BIG EAST play, snap five-game skid against Bulldogs

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Xavier women's basketball hit 62.5 percent of its shot attempts in the second half on Tuesday night, overcoming a three-point halftime deficit to upend Butler, 73-63, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Musketeers have now won seven straight contests as they improved to 12-2 on the year, while moving to 3-0 in BIG EAST play. The win streak is the team's longest since winning 19 in a row during the 2010-11 season. The 3-0 start to conference play is also the Musketeers best start to conference play since 2010-11.

The win also snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with Butler as the Bulldogs dropped to 6-8 (1-2 BIG EAST) on the year.

Four Musketeers scored in double figures for the first time this season, paced by Maddison Blackwell and Raeshaun Gaffney who both scored 15 points. Blackwell added 10 rebounds for her second double-double in as many games and the fourth of her career.

Briana Glover added 12 points, while Aliyah Zantt had 14 points and nine rebounds - just shy of her third career double-double.

The Musketeers hit 48.2 percent of their shot attempts on the night and were 15-for-24 from the floor in the second half. After going 1-for-1 from the foul line in the first half, the Musketeers went 14-for-15 in the second stanza to finish 15-for-16.

Xavier held a 19-15 advantage on the glass in the second half, but Butler ended the game with one more rebound, 38-37, than the Musketeers.

After trailing 29-26 at halftime, the Musketeers went 4-for-5 from the floor to spark an 11-0 run and regain a lead they would never relinquish. Xavier led by as many as 15 points, 64-49, with 2:59 left in regulation.

Butler closed the gap to seven points, 68-61, with 47 seconds left in the game before the Musketeers sank five of their final six free throws the seal the win.

Tori Schickel led the Bulldogs with 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.

Xavier continues its BIG EAST road swing at Creighton on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. EST. The game will be aired nationally on FOX Sports 1.