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Xavier University Athletics
Sunday, December 16
Cincinnati, Ohio
2 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Cincinnati
Xavier Travels to Cincinnati for Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout
12.13.18 | Women's Basketball
The Musketeers look to win their fifth straight over the Bearcats
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball travels to Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 16 for the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Fifth Third Arena.
The Musketeers enter the contest with a 7-1 record and a five-game win streak. The Bearcats are 6-5 this season with a 5-1 mark at home.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-1) at CINCINNATI BEARCATS (6-5)
Game Info - Sunday, Dec. 16 - 2 p.m. ET - Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
Live Video - bit.ly/2QJx81x
Live Stats - bit.ly/2SJbYxE
Live Audio - bit.ly/2UEKhYT
2018-19 Record: 6-5
2017-18 Record: 19-13 (10-6 AAC)
2017-18 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 23-17
Last Meeting: XU 53, UC 50 (12/10/17 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is under the direction of first-year head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. She was previously the head coach at Western Kentucky for four seasons, compiling a 154-47 (.766) record with four NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Bearcats posted a 19-13 (10-6 AAC) record last season and participated in the WNIT. Cincinnati returns its leading scorer in senior Nikira Goings who averaged 11.2 points per game last year. The Bearcats also return All-AAC Freshman Team selection in IImar'I Thomas.
• Cincinnati has three players averaging 10 or more points this season in Nikira Goings (11.3), IImar'I Thomas (10.3) and Antoinette Miller (10.2). Angel Rizor paces the team on the glass, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Xavier looks to win its fifth straight game over the Bearcats after posting a 53-50 win last season on Dec. 10 at Cintas Center.
• Xavier has won 11 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools.
• Three of the last six meetings have been decided by three or fewer points. A total of 20 games in the rivalry have been decided by 10 or fewer points.
• Xavier is 8-6 all-time when playing at Fifth Third Arena and has won four straight at Cincinnati. The Musketeers haven't lost at Cincinnati since Dec. 7. 2008 (L, 65-55).
• Sunday's matchup will be the 16th meeting in December. Xavier is 9-6 versus Cincinnati when playing in the month of December.
• Head coach Brian Neal is 4-1 all-time against the Bearcats. After dropping his first meeting against Cincinnati in 2013, he has won four straight in the series.
• Freshman Carrie Gross scored a season-high 12 points on Sunday, Dec. 9 as Xavier topped Delaware State, 80-59, at Cintas Center.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted her third double-double in as many games and her fifth of the season (sixth of her career), scoring a game-high 17 points to go along with 13 rebounds. The forward was 5-for-8 from the floor with two 3-pointers, while going 5-for-8 from the foul line. She added three steals.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens scored a game-high 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting - her fifth game of the year with 10 or more points - while adding five rebounds. The guard also dished out a career-high eight assists, the first Xavier player with eight assists in a game since Jan. 4, 2017 versus Seton Hall (Marquia Turner had eight assists).
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson scored 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from behind the arc, her fourth game of the year with 10 or more points. She added three rebounds and two assists.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the team in scoring (16.1) and rebounding (11.3). The forward has connected on 53.7 percent (51-for-95) of her shot attempts to rank seventh in the BIG EAST. She also leads the BIG EAST in rebounding, while ranking third in scoring and sixth in steals per game (2.4). Gray's rebounding average also ranks 21st in the NCAA.
• Sophomore Aly Reiff is averaging 7.0 points per game after posting 1.6 points per game last season. The guard leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.545), going 12-for-22 from behind the arc.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.455). She is 20-for-44 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks 11th nationally among freshmen in three pointers made.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks second on the team in scoring (11.6) and assists (4.4). The guard ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assists. Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham paces the team in assists, averaging 4.6 assists per game to rank sixth in the conference.
• Freshman Ayanna Townsend leads the team in blocks (12), while ranking third in the BIG EAST. The forward leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. She has averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season.
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.250), while ranking 23rd nationally. The Musketeers also rank fifth in steals (9.0) and fifth in scoring offense (70.4).
• Xavier has scored 80 or more points in a game three times this season and has averaged 87.0 points per game in its last two outings. The Musketeers' season-high in scoring last year was 75 points against Furman on Dec. 17.
• Xavier defeated Chicago State, 91-57, on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The Musketeers moved to 19-0 in season openers at Cintas Center following the win. The 91 points were the most points in a game for Xavier since scoring 91 against Marquette on Feb. 16, 2015. Xavier won 91-72 at Cintas Center.
• The 34 point win over Chicago State was Xavier's largest margin of victory since an 86-53 win over Delaware State on Dec. 1, 2016.
• The Musketeers forced 26 turnovers against Chicago State. The 26 forced turnovers are the most in a game since Wofford committed 27 against the Musketeers on Nov. 15, 2014 at Cintas Center.
• Xavier posted a 48-35 win over Fairfield on Nov. 17. The 35 points allowed were the fewest since a 67-27 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 25, 2015 at Cintas Center.
• Xavier returns point guard Na'Teshia Owens who played and started in 27 games last season. She averaged 7.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while adding 59 assists and 24 steals. The junior also hit 40 percent (30-for-75) of her three pointers to rank eighth in the BIG EAST.
• The Musketeers also return Aaliyah Dunham who was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. The guard led the team in assists (74) and three pointers made (32). She finished the year ranked fourth in Xavier single-season history in assists by a freshman.
• Aaliyah Dunham also connected on 39 percent of her three pointers (32-for-82), the ninth best percentage in the conference.
• Xavier finished the year ranked second all-time in program history in made three pointers with 214. The 700 attempted three pointers rank first in school history.
• Xavier returns its top rebounder from last season in A'riana Gray. The sophomore forward pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game last year, leading all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. She also led the Musketeers in steals (30).
• Xavier is the only team in the BIG EAST without a graduate student or senior on its roster. The Musketeers only have three upperclassmen (juniors), and have 10 underclassmen – ranked with Georgetown and Providence for the most underclassmen in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier will play 18 games at Cintas Center this season, including nine BIG EAST games.
• The Musketeers open and close BIG EAST play against Georgetown. Xavier travels to Washington, D.C., on Dec. 29 to open conference play and host the Hoyas on March 3 at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers have won 41 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 34-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers will take on three opponents for the first time in school history in Fairfield, North Alabama and Alabama State.
• Xavier will be playing nine home non-conference games, the second most in program history. The Musketeers played 10 non-conference games at Cintas Center during the 2015-16 campaign.
• Xavier's non-conference opponents combined to post a 142-192 (.425) record last season. Three teams posted winning records in Minnesota, North Alabama and Cincinnati.
• Minnesota and Cincinnati both participated in postseason tournaments last season. The Golden Gophers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being defeated by Oregon. Cincinnati participated in the WNIT and was defeated in the opening round at Michigan State.
• Five of Xavier's non-conference opponents will be under the direction of a new head coach: Chicago State, Minnesota, Bowling Green, Delaware State and Cincinnati. Most notably, Minnesota is coached by former Gopher All-American, Lindsay Whalen.
• The Musketeers will take on an opponent from 11 difference conferences this season.
• Xavier will play three games on national television with each game being aired on FS2. The Musketeers will play all three of those games at Cintas Center (Jan. 27 vs DePaul; Feb. 15 vs Providence; March 1 vs Villanova).
• Xavier's remaining 15 conference games will be aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
• BEDN, launched in September 2014, is its own dedicated channel within the FOX Sports app, the mobile app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. Streaming on the FOX Sports app is now available on several connected devices, including Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.
First-place votes in parentheses
• Season tickets are on sale now through the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office. For more information on ticket options, call the ticket office at 513-745-3411 ext. 7 or CLICK HERE for additional information.
• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 against Alabama State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
The Musketeers enter the contest with a 7-1 record and a five-game win streak. The Bearcats are 6-5 this season with a 5-1 mark at home.
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THE MATCHUP VS CINCINNATI |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-1) at CINCINNATI BEARCATS (6-5)
Game Info - Sunday, Dec. 16 - 2 p.m. ET - Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
Live Video - bit.ly/2QJx81x
Live Stats - bit.ly/2SJbYxE
Live Audio - bit.ly/2UEKhYT
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ABOUT CINCINNATI |
2018-19 Record: 6-52017-18 Record: 19-13 (10-6 AAC)
2017-18 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 23-17
Last Meeting: XU 53, UC 50 (12/10/17 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is under the direction of first-year head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. She was previously the head coach at Western Kentucky for four seasons, compiling a 154-47 (.766) record with four NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Bearcats posted a 19-13 (10-6 AAC) record last season and participated in the WNIT. Cincinnati returns its leading scorer in senior Nikira Goings who averaged 11.2 points per game last year. The Bearcats also return All-AAC Freshman Team selection in IImar'I Thomas.
• Cincinnati has three players averaging 10 or more points this season in Nikira Goings (11.3), IImar'I Thomas (10.3) and Antoinette Miller (10.2). Angel Rizor paces the team on the glass, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
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CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT NOTES |
• Xavier looks to win its fifth straight game over the Bearcats after posting a 53-50 win last season on Dec. 10 at Cintas Center.
• Xavier has won 11 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools.
• Three of the last six meetings have been decided by three or fewer points. A total of 20 games in the rivalry have been decided by 10 or fewer points.
• Xavier is 8-6 all-time when playing at Fifth Third Arena and has won four straight at Cincinnati. The Musketeers haven't lost at Cincinnati since Dec. 7. 2008 (L, 65-55).
• Sunday's matchup will be the 16th meeting in December. Xavier is 9-6 versus Cincinnati when playing in the month of December.
• Head coach Brian Neal is 4-1 all-time against the Bearcats. After dropping his first meeting against Cincinnati in 2013, he has won four straight in the series.
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Freshman Carrie Gross scored a season-high 12 points on Sunday, Dec. 9 as Xavier topped Delaware State, 80-59, at Cintas Center.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted her third double-double in as many games and her fifth of the season (sixth of her career), scoring a game-high 17 points to go along with 13 rebounds. The forward was 5-for-8 from the floor with two 3-pointers, while going 5-for-8 from the foul line. She added three steals.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens scored a game-high 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting - her fifth game of the year with 10 or more points - while adding five rebounds. The guard also dished out a career-high eight assists, the first Xavier player with eight assists in a game since Jan. 4, 2017 versus Seton Hall (Marquia Turner had eight assists).
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson scored 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from behind the arc, her fourth game of the year with 10 or more points. She added three rebounds and two assists.
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INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES |
• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the team in scoring (16.1) and rebounding (11.3). The forward has connected on 53.7 percent (51-for-95) of her shot attempts to rank seventh in the BIG EAST. She also leads the BIG EAST in rebounding, while ranking third in scoring and sixth in steals per game (2.4). Gray's rebounding average also ranks 21st in the NCAA.
• Sophomore Aly Reiff is averaging 7.0 points per game after posting 1.6 points per game last season. The guard leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.545), going 12-for-22 from behind the arc.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.455). She is 20-for-44 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks 11th nationally among freshmen in three pointers made.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks second on the team in scoring (11.6) and assists (4.4). The guard ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assists. Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham paces the team in assists, averaging 4.6 assists per game to rank sixth in the conference.
• Freshman Ayanna Townsend leads the team in blocks (12), while ranking third in the BIG EAST. The forward leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. She has averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season.
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TEAM NOTABLES |
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.250), while ranking 23rd nationally. The Musketeers also rank fifth in steals (9.0) and fifth in scoring offense (70.4).
• Xavier has scored 80 or more points in a game three times this season and has averaged 87.0 points per game in its last two outings. The Musketeers' season-high in scoring last year was 75 points against Furman on Dec. 17.
• Xavier defeated Chicago State, 91-57, on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The Musketeers moved to 19-0 in season openers at Cintas Center following the win. The 91 points were the most points in a game for Xavier since scoring 91 against Marquette on Feb. 16, 2015. Xavier won 91-72 at Cintas Center.
• The 34 point win over Chicago State was Xavier's largest margin of victory since an 86-53 win over Delaware State on Dec. 1, 2016.
• The Musketeers forced 26 turnovers against Chicago State. The 26 forced turnovers are the most in a game since Wofford committed 27 against the Musketeers on Nov. 15, 2014 at Cintas Center.
• Xavier posted a 48-35 win over Fairfield on Nov. 17. The 35 points allowed were the fewest since a 67-27 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 25, 2015 at Cintas Center.
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ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS |
• Xavier returns point guard Na'Teshia Owens who played and started in 27 games last season. She averaged 7.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while adding 59 assists and 24 steals. The junior also hit 40 percent (30-for-75) of her three pointers to rank eighth in the BIG EAST.
• The Musketeers also return Aaliyah Dunham who was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. The guard led the team in assists (74) and three pointers made (32). She finished the year ranked fourth in Xavier single-season history in assists by a freshman.
• Aaliyah Dunham also connected on 39 percent of her three pointers (32-for-82), the ninth best percentage in the conference.
• Xavier finished the year ranked second all-time in program history in made three pointers with 214. The 700 attempted three pointers rank first in school history.
• Xavier returns its top rebounder from last season in A'riana Gray. The sophomore forward pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game last year, leading all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. She also led the Musketeers in steals (30).
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YOUNG MUSKETEERS |
• Xavier is the only team in the BIG EAST without a graduate student or senior on its roster. The Musketeers only have three upperclassmen (juniors), and have 10 underclassmen – ranked with Georgetown and Providence for the most underclassmen in the BIG EAST.
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SCHEDULE NOTES |
• Xavier will play 18 games at Cintas Center this season, including nine BIG EAST games.
• The Musketeers open and close BIG EAST play against Georgetown. Xavier travels to Washington, D.C., on Dec. 29 to open conference play and host the Hoyas on March 3 at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers have won 41 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 34-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers will take on three opponents for the first time in school history in Fairfield, North Alabama and Alabama State.
• Xavier will be playing nine home non-conference games, the second most in program history. The Musketeers played 10 non-conference games at Cintas Center during the 2015-16 campaign.
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OPPONENT BREAKDOWN |
• Xavier's non-conference opponents combined to post a 142-192 (.425) record last season. Three teams posted winning records in Minnesota, North Alabama and Cincinnati.
• Minnesota and Cincinnati both participated in postseason tournaments last season. The Golden Gophers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being defeated by Oregon. Cincinnati participated in the WNIT and was defeated in the opening round at Michigan State.
• Five of Xavier's non-conference opponents will be under the direction of a new head coach: Chicago State, Minnesota, Bowling Green, Delaware State and Cincinnati. Most notably, Minnesota is coached by former Gopher All-American, Lindsay Whalen.
• The Musketeers will take on an opponent from 11 difference conferences this season.
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NATIONAL TV BROADCASTS |
• Xavier will play three games on national television with each game being aired on FS2. The Musketeers will play all three of those games at Cintas Center (Jan. 27 vs DePaul; Feb. 15 vs Providence; March 1 vs Villanova).
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BIG EAST DIGITAL NETWORK |
• Xavier's remaining 15 conference games will be aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
• BEDN, launched in September 2014, is its own dedicated channel within the FOX Sports app, the mobile app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. Streaming on the FOX Sports app is now available on several connected devices, including Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.
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PRESEASON COACHES POLL |
| 1. | DePaul (5) | 77 |
| Marquette (5) | 77 | |
| 3. | Villanova | 57 |
| 4. | Creighton | 53 |
| 5. | Georgetown | 52 |
| 6. | St. John's | 48 |
| 7. | Butler | 34 |
| 8. | Seton Hall | 23 |
| 9. | Providence | 17 |
| 10. | Xavier | 12 |
First-place votes in parentheses
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SEASON TICKET INFORMATION |
• Season tickets are on sale now through the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office. For more information on ticket options, call the ticket office at 513-745-3411 ext. 7 or CLICK HERE for additional information.
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UP NEXT |
• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 against Alabama State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
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