Women’s Basketball Continues BIG EAST Action at Creighton

Friday, December 30

Omaha, Neb.

8:05 p.m.

Xavier University

Creighton

Women’s Basketball Continues BIG EAST Action at Creighton

12.29.16 | Women's Basketball

XU Notes (PDF)Live Stats Watch Live - BIG EAST Digital Network

Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. ET from D.J. Sokol Arena

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

OMAHA, Neb. – Xavier women's basketball continues BIG EAST action at Creighton on Friday, Dec. 30. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. ET from D.J. Sokol Arena.

The Musketeers (9-3, 1-0) and Bluejays (7-4, 1-0) both opened conference play on Wednesday with victories.

THE MATCHUP VS CREIGHTON

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-3, 1-0) at CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS (7-4, 1-0)
Game Info: Friday, Dec. 30 - 8 p.m. ET - D.J. Sokol Arena (2,500)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/1kT5TNw
Live Video: http://bit.ly/1sjW14c

ABOUT THE BLUEJAYS

2016-17 Record: 7-4 (1-0 BIG EAST)
Series History: Xavier trails, 4-2

NOTABLES
• Creighton has won three straight games, most recently defeating Butler, 67-52, on Wednesday behind a school record 15 blocks. The Bluejays are also 5-0 at home this season.
• Creighton was picked to finish first with DePaul in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 17-18 (8-10 BIG EAST) record last year.
• The Bluejays return 13 letterwinners, including three players who earned preseason All-BIG EAST honors: Audrey Faber, Marissa Janning and MC McGrory. Janning was also the 2014 BIG EAST Player of the Year.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers trail the all-time series with Creighton, 4-2. Xavier is 0-4 in road games versus the Bluejays.

• Xavier won the last meeting between the two schools, 57-55, on Feb. 7 last season at Cintas Center. Jenna Crittendon hit the game-winning shot as time expired.

• Xavier hit 76.7 percent (33-for-43) of its free throws in the two meetings last year, while Creighton hit 61.5 percent (8-for-13) of its free throws. The two squads split the season series.

CAREER STATS VS CREIGHTON

• Maddison Blackwell has averaged 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in six career meetings against the Bluejays. The senior forward has posted a .500 field-goal percentage (19-for-38) in those outings.

• Leah Schaefer has hit 62.5 percent (15-for-24) of her shot attempts in five career meetings with Creighton. The senior forward has scored 6.8 points per game in those outings, while pulling down 3.4 rebounds per game.

LAST TIME OUT VS PROVIDENCE

• Xavier posted a come-from-behind victory on Wednesday to defeat the Friars, 54-51. Xavier trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half before Maddison Blackwell fueled the comeback with 13 points in the second half. The senior forward finished the game with 15 points and nine rebounds.

• Raeshaun Gaffney added 11 points and six rebounds in the win, while Leah Schaefer scored nine points on 4-for-6 shooting with seven rebounds.

• Xavier improved to 2-2 in BIG EAST openers with a 1-2 mark in BIG EAST openers on the road following the win at Providence.

FASTBREAK POINTS

• Raeshaun Gaffney ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in scoring (14.7 ppg) and sixth in free-throw percentage (.792). The senior guard also ranks third in three-point field-goal percentage (.462).

• Raeshaun Gaffney has hit 24 three-pointers this season, 10 more than she posted all of last season. She has drained 46.2 percent (24-for-52) of her shot attempts from behind the arc.

• Imani Partlow ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.494). Marquia Turner ranks fifth in assists per game (4.2), while Maddison Blackwell ranks 11th in rebounds per game (5.9).

• Over the last two seasons, Xavier has held an opponent under 50 points nine times. The Musketeers' scoring defense currently ranks second in the BIG EAST (56.3 ppg).

• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in six statistical categories: scoring defense (56.3), field-goal percentage defense (.353), three-point field-goal percentage defense (.275), rebounding margin (+3.9) and three-point field-goal percentage (.356).

• The win over Michigan marked the 200th program victory at Cintas Center. Xavier has compiled a 200-66 record since the building opened for the 2000-01 season.

SCHAEFER'S BREAKOUT SEASON

• Leah Schaefer ranks second in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.8 bpg), while ranking eighth in rebounding (6.8 rpg). The senior forward has already blocked 21 shots this season, two more than her total from each of the previous three seasons. She also ranks 69th nationally in blocked shots.

• Leah Schaefer has 78 career blocks to rank seventh all-time at Xavier. The forward has also pulled down 505 career rebounds, 90 rebounds shy of entering the career top-10 in the statistical category.

• Leah Schaefer is also averaging 2.9 more rebounds per game this season than she did a year ago (6.8-3.9). She has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game three times this season, increasing her career double-figure rebounding games to seven.

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 223-85 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 opens a three-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 2 against St. John's at 7 p.m. The game will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Network.