Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Wake Forest on Monday Night

Monday, December 4

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

4-2

Wake Forest

4-5

Wake Forest

Xavier

Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Wake Forest on Monday Night

12.04.17 | Women's Basketball

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

Xavier dropped its first home non-conference game since Dec. 6, 2015

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's basketball erased a 16-point second-half deficit, but Wake Forest held on for a 62-57 win on Monday night at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers dropped to 4-2 on the year, while the Demon Deacons moved to 4-5.

THE STORYLINES

• Wake Forest took advantage of seven turnovers in the opening quarter – turning the miscues into 12 points – taking a 19-14 advantage at the end of the frame. The Demon Deacons led by as many as nine, 31-22, with 2:26 on the clock before taking a 35-28 advantage into the locker room.

• Jada Byrd and Na'Teshia Owens led Xavier with seven points at the break, while A'riana Gray added six rebounds and six points. Wake Forest held a 16-15 advantage on the glass.

• Wake Forest led by as many as 16 points (51-35) with 1:13 left in the third quarter before the Musketeers engineered an 18-1 run to take their first lead of the game (53-52) with 4:40 left in regulation. Xavier was 7-for-12 from the floor with four 3-pointers during the run.

• The Demon Deacons closed the game on a 10-4 run on 4-for-7 shooting to hold off the Xavier comeback.

NOTABLES

• Anniina Äijänen scored a career-high 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting with 13 points coming in the second half. The senior forward added two blocks, two steals, two rebounds and one assist.

• Na'Teshia Owens added 13 points, three assists and two rebounds. Jada Byrd chipped in nine points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists.

• A'riana Gray pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points. Wake Forest won the battle on the glass, 39-33.

• Xavier dished out a season-high 16 assists in the loss. The Musketeers also posted a season-high seven blocks, paced by freshman Deja Ross who had three. She added six rebounds and five points.

• Xavier had a 15-game home non-conference win streak snapped in the loss. The Musketeers have now posted a 26-4 record over the last four seasons in non-conference games at Cintas Center. The Musketeers' last home non-conference loss was against Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 6, 2015 (L, 62-53).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at Bowling Green. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. from the Stroh Center.