Ross, Wasylson Lead Musketeers Over New Orleans, 61-45

Saturday, December 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

12 p.m.

Xavier University

9-2

New Orleans

4-5

New Orleans

Xavier

Ross, Wasylson Lead Musketeers Over New Orleans, 61-45

12.22.18 | Women's Basketball

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

The two players combined for 26 points on Saturday afternoon

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Deja Ross and Lauren Wasylson combined for 26 points on Saturday afternoon, leading the Musketeers to a 61-45 win over New Orleans at Cintas Center. Xavier closed non-conference play with a 9-2 record, while the Privateers dropped to 4-5 overall.

FIRST HALF

• Xavier led from start to finish and led by as many as seven points (13-6) in the opening quarter before New Orleans scored four unanswered points to end the frame, making the score 13-10. The Musketeers scored nine points off of turnovers in the first quarter.

• The Musketeers hit their first three shots of the second quarter to build their first double-figure lead, 22-12. Xavier closed the half on a 6-0 run capped by a pair of Na'Teshia Owens free throws in the closing seconds to take a 34-22 lead into the locker room.

• Deja Ross led all scorers at the break with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting. She added a game-high four rebounds. The Musketeers forced 12 turnovers in the first half, turning the miscues into 21 points.

SECOND HALF

• New Orleans got within seven points (39-32) at the 3:27 mark in the third quarter before a Lauren Wasylson three pointer on the next possession regained the Xavier double-figure advantage. The Musketeers maintained its double-figure advantage for the remainder of the game and led by as many as 16 points twice in the final quarter.

• Lauren Wasylson scored nine points in the second half on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc.

NOTABLES

• Sophomore Deja Ross scored a team-high 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting with two 3-pointers. She added six rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 28 minutes of action. The forward has now scored in double figures twice this season.

• Freshman Lauren Wasylson added 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from three-point range. She added two rebounds and one steal. The guard now has a team-high 30 three pointers on the year.

• Junior Tierra Floyd added eight points, while freshman Carrie Gross and junior Na'Teshia Owens both chipped in seven. Owens also had five assists as the Musketeers dished out 16 assists on the day. Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham matched Owens for the game high in assists as she also had five.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray added a team-high 10 rebounds and was one of four Xavier players with three steals. The Musketeers posted 15 steals, the team's seventh game of the year with 10 or more steals.

• Xavier held a 25-16 advantage in points off of turnovers, while New Orleans posted a 43-41 advantage on the glass.

• The Musketeers went 10-for-10 from the foul line after entering the game with a .604 free-throw percentage.

UP NEXT

• Xavier opens BIG EAST action at Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. The Musketeers conclude the road swing at Villanova on Monday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.

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