Xavier Ends BIG EAST Road Swing, Falls at No. 21 Villanova

Friday, January 5

Villanova, Penn.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

8-6, 1-2BE

Villanova

12-2, 2-2BE

Xavier

Villanova

Xavier Ends BIG EAST Road Swing, Falls at No. 21 Villanova

01.05.18 | Women's Basketball

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

The Musketeers were defeated 75-57 on Friday night

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Xavier women's basketball ended a three-game BIG EAST road swing on Friday night, falling at No. 21 Villanova, 75-57.

The Musketeers moved to 8-6 (1-2 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improved to 12-2 (2-2 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Villanova hit five of its first nine shots to take a 13-7 lead at the first media timeout. Xavier responded with a 6-0 run capped by a pair of Kindell Fincher free throws to get with two (15-13) at the 1:28 mark, but a Jannah Tucker jumper on the next possession gave Villanova a 17-13 advantage at the end of the quarter.

• Villanova led by as many as nine points, 29-20, with 2:27 left before intermission. Xavier closed the half on a 4-1 run capped by a Jada Byrd layup as time expired to get the Musketeers within six (30-24).

• Jada Byrd and Imani Partlow paced Xavier with six points each at the break. Both teams had 16 rebounds with Na'Teshia Owens leading the Musketeers with three.

SECOND HALF

• Villanova hit back-to-back three pointers to open the second half, taking its first double-figure lead of the game (36-24). The Wildcats led by as many as 17 points late in the third quarter behind a .714 (10-for-14) field-goal percentage before taking a 57-42 advantage at the end of the frame.

• Villanova never relinquished its double-figure lead behind a strong second-half shooting performance. The Wildcats hit 60.7 percent of its shot attempts (17-for-28) in the half as Villanova posted the 75-57 win.

NOTABLES

• Jada Byrd led the Musketeers with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting. The senior guard also led the team in rebounds (4) and assists (3).

• Imani Partlow added 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Deja Ross and A'riana Gray both chipped in eight points for the Musketeers. Ross also had four rebounds.

• Xavier went 15-for-17 from the foul line, while Villanova was 11-for-16. Both teams had five steals in the contest.

• Xavier held a 25-23 advantage in bench points. Villanova posted a 30-28 advantage in points in the paint.

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues BIG EAST action on Sunday, Jan. 7 against St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.