Butler Slips Past Musketeers in Opening Round of BIG EAST Tournament

Saturday, March 4

Milwaukee, Wis.

5 p.m.

Xavier University

12-18

No. 10 seed Butler

6-24

Butler

Xavier

Butler Slips Past Musketeers in Opening Round of BIG EAST Tournament

03.04.17 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)Postgame Quotes (PDF)

Xavier falls, 68-66, on Saturday evening at the Al McGuire Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

MILWAUKEE – Butler's Michelle Weaver hit the game-winning shot with seven seconds left on the clock to upset No. 7 seed Xavier, 68-66, on Saturday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center. The No. 10 seed Bulldogs knocked off the Musketeers for the second time in as many seasons at the BIG EAST Tournament.

Marquia Turner brought the ball up the court on the ensuing possession, but her game-tying shot fell short as the Musketeers ended the year with a 12-18 record. The Bulldogs (6-24) snapped a 13-game losing streak with the win.

The game was back-and-forth as it featured 12 lead changes and eight ties. Neither team led by more than six points.

NOTABLES

• Raeshaun Gaffney led the Musketeers with 20 points, her 10th career game with 20 or more points. The senior guard added three assists and was 9-for-10 from the foul line.

• Marquia Turner was the only other Musketeer in double figures with 12 points. The junior guard added four assists and two steals.

• Xavier held a 37-31 advantage on the glass with Marquia Turner and Imani Partlow pacing the team with seven rebounds each. Anniina Äijänen chipped in six points and six rebounds.

• Jada Byrd had seven points on 3-for-3 shooting with two rebounds and two assists. Imani Partlow added seven points on 3-for-5 shooting.

• Both teams had 14 assists in the contest. Butler held a 9-5 advantage in blocks.

FIRST HALF

• Butler opened the game by scoring six unanswered points, all coming from Tori Schickel, to force a Xavier timeout. The Musketeers scored five straight capped by a Raeshaun Gaffney three pointer to make the score, 6-5.

• The Bulldogs led for the remainder of the period, taking a 24-20, after one quarter of play.

• The Musketeers outscored the Bulldogs, 14-11, in the second quarter. Xavier led, 34-32, on a Marquia Turner three pointer with 56 seconds left on the clock before Butler scored three unanswered points to take a 35-34 lead into the locker room.

• Xavier held a 21-17 advantage on the glass at the break. Marquia Turner and Anniina Äijänen led the Musketeers with four rebounds each.

• Marquia Turner led Xavier with nine points on 4-for-9 shooting. Jada Byrd added seven points on 3-for-3 shooting.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier outscored Butler, 19-17, in the third quarter as the Musketeers posted their highest field-goal percentage (.429) in the game. Neither team led by more than three points in the third quarter before an Anniina Äijänen putback with one second on the clock gave Xavier a 53-52 advantage after three quarters of play.

• A pair of Raeshaun Gaffney free throws gave Xavier its largest lead of the game, 60-56, with 5:24 left in regulation. Xavier led, 66-64, with 1:25 on the clock before Butler scored four straight capped by Michelle Weaver's game winner to seal the win.

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