Women’s Basketball Returns to Action Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Sunday, November 27

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

Arkansas - Pine Bluff

Women’s Basketball Returns to Action Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

11.26.16 | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Listen Live UAPB Notes XU Notes (PDF)

Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center on Sunday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball looks to improve on its 3-0 start with a 2 p.m. matchup with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday, Nov. 27. The Lady Lions enter the game with a 0-3 record.

THE MATCHUP VS UAPB

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-0) vs ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (0-3)
Game Info: Sunday, Nov. 27 - 2 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,250)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/1lYmT6d
Live Audio: http://bit.ly/2fR20Hz

ABOUT THE LADY LIONS

2016-17 Record: 0-3 (0-0 SWAC)
Series History: Xavier leads 2-0

NOTABLES
• UAPB was picked to finish eighth in the SWAC Preseason Coaches Poll following a 9-21 mark last season.
• Destiny Brewton is the lone Lady Lion averaging double figures this season, scoring 13.7 points per game. Niya Head and Malaik Muhammad have both added 9.7 points per game this season.
• Ohanta Faith leads the team in rebounding (6.0). UAPB has a -7.0 rebounding margin through three games.
• Sunday's matchup will be the Lady Lions third road game of the year having already played at Ball State and Illinois.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier is 2-0 all-time against UAPB. The Musketeers topped the Lady Lions, 89-52, on Nov. 14, 2014 in the last meeting between the two schools.

• Raeshaun Gaffney and Marquia Turner both scored 10 points and had five rebounds in the last meeting with UAPB. Xavier went 31-for-36 from the foul line in the win.

LAST TIME OUT VS UNF

• The 13 three pointers by the Musketeers were the most in a game since March 22, 2011. Xavier hit 14 in an 85-75 loss to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Cintas Center.

• The Musketeers hit 51.7 percent of their shot attempts (31-for-60), their highest field-goal percentage since posting a .549 field-goal percentage at Marquette on Dec. 30, 2014.

• Xavier dished out 24 assists in the win, the most assists by a Xavier team since Feb. 1, 2011. The Musketeers had 27 in a 102-51 win over La Salle.

• Imani Partlow scored a career-high 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting. The forward also matched Leach Schaefer for the game high in rebounds as both players had eight.

• Raeshaun Gaffney scored a game-high 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting. She was also 4-for-7 from behind the arc and 3-for-4 from the foul line. The senior guard added two assists and six rebounds.

• Kindell Fincher scored in double figures for the third straight game with 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting. The redshirt-sophomore was 4-for-7 from three-point range.

• Freshman guard Na'Teshia Owens also had seven points on 3-for-4 shooting, while adding seven rebounds.

• The 83 points is the most by a Xavier team since Feb. 6, 2015. The Musketeers defeated Marquette, 91-72, at Cintas Center.

FASTBREAK POINTS

• Over the last two seasons, Xavier has held an opponent under 50 points eight times. The Musketeers' scoring defense currently ranks first in the BIG EAST through three weeks of play (49.3 ppg).

• Xavier has attempted 36 more free throws than its opponents this season (61-25). Raeshaun Gaffney has hit 80 percent (16-for-20) of her free throws.

• The Musketeers are 12-2 in the month of November over the last three seasons with a 11-1 mark at Cintas Center.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Xavier will play six straight games at Cintas Center to open the season. The Musketeers went 15-4 at home a year ago, totaling 19 games – the most home games in school history.

• Xavier will take on four new opponents for the first time in program history this season: Tennessee State, Southeast Missouri State, North Florida and Southern Miss. The Musketeers are also facing three different opponents for only the second time in school history: Delaware State, Wake Forest and Oklahoma.

• The Musketeers have won 22 non-conference games over the last three seasons with an 19-3 mark at Cintas Center.

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN

• Xavier's non-conference opponents combined to post a 145-194 overall record a year ago. Three teams posted winning records, while two teams advanced to postseason play (Michigan – WNIT; Oklahoma – NCAA).

• The Musketeers face two teams from both the OVC and Atlantic Sun during non-conference play. All told, Xavier will take on an opponent from nine different conferences.

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• The Musketeers posted a winning record last season, the 22nd winning record for Xavier since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982-83.

• Xavier returns two starters in seniors Raeshaun Gaffney and Maddison Blackwell. Gaffney led the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.8) last year, while Blackwell added 9.2 points per game in BIG EAST play with a .516 field-goal percentage – the fourth highest in the conference.

• Brian Neal returns to the bench for his fourth season as head coach. Last season, he picked up his 200th career victory as a head coach. He now has a 217-82 in 11 years as a head coach.

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.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 1 against Delaware State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.