Balanced Offense Leads Xavier Over Kennesaw State

Wednesday, December 21

Las Vegas, Nev.

7:45 p.m.

Xavier University

8-3

Kennesaw State

1-11

Kennesaw State

Xavier

Balanced Offense Leads Xavier Over Kennesaw State

12.21.16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Musketeers defeat Owls, 75-52, on Wednesday night

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

LAS VEGAS – Xavier women's basketball ended Puerto Rico Classic - Las Vegas action with a 75-52 win over Kennesaw State on Wednesday night. The three-day tournament was held at South Point Arena.

The Musketeers wrapped up non-conference action with an 8-3 record. The Owls moved to 1-11 following the loss. Xavier also improved to 2-1 in the all-time series with Kennesaw State.

NOTABLES

• Xavier had four players score in double figures for the first time this season: Raeshaun Gaffney (15), Marquia Turner (14), Anniina Äijänen (13) and Imani Partlow (10).

• Raeshaun Gaffney led all scorers with 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting. The senior guard knocked down three 3-points and had three rebounds.

• Marquia Turner added 14 points for the second time in as many games. The junior guard was 7-for-10 from floor, while dishing out three assists.

• Anniina Äijänen posted a career-high 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting. The junior forward added five rebounds in only 14 minutes of action off the bench.

• Imani Partlow recorded her second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She was 4-for-8 from the floor.

• Xavier held a 46-40 advantage on the glass and had three more blocks (5-2). The Musketeers also held a 40-18 advantage in points in the paint, the second time this season Xavier has scored 40 or more points in the paint.

• Xavier scored a season-high 37 bench points. The Musketeers also scored 14 points off of turnovers.

FIRST QUARTER

• Xavier opened the game on a 7-0 run before the Owls responded by going on an 11-2 run to take an 11-9 advantage at the 3:58 mark. Kennesaw State led by two, 13-11, with 2:07 on the clock before the Musketeers went on a 7-2 run to close the quarter and take an 18-15 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

• Xavier outscored Kennesaw State, 25-11, in the second quarter behind a .611 field-goal percentage (11-for-18). The Musketeers took a 43-26 lead into the locker room.

THIRD QUARTER

• The Musketeers maintained their double-figure lead for the remainder of the game. Xavier hit 43.8 percent of its shot attempts (7-for-16) in the frame, while limiting the Owls to a 25 percent clip (4-for-16).

FOURTH QUARTER

• Xavier posted its largest lead of the game, 73-42, at the 3:40 mark on a Martha Thompson layup. The Musketeers also shot 46.2 percent from the floor (6-for-13) and had five players score in the quarter.

UP NEXT

• BIG EAST action begins with road trips to Providence (Dec. 28) and Creighton (Dec. 30).