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Monday, December 31
Villanova, Pa.
1 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Villanova
BIG EAST Action Continues at Villanova
12.30.18 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Finneran Pavilion
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues BIG EAST action on Monday, Dec. 31 at Villanova. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Finneran Pavilion.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-3, 0-1) at VILLANOVA WILDCATS (8-3, 0-1)
Game Info - Monday, Dec. 31 - 1 p.m. ET - Finneran Pavilion (6,500)
Live Video - BEDN - bit.ly/2EVKeCm
Live Stats - bit.ly/2RlNRYZ
2018-19 Record: 8-3 (0-1 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Record: 23-9 (12-6 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA - Second Round
Series History: Xavier trails, 10-1
Last Meeting: Villanova 89, Xavier 50 (01/26/18 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
• Villanova ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (54.7), while ranking third in field-goal percentage defense (.358), three-point field-goal percentage defense (.248) and three pointers made per game (9.9).
• The Wildcats rank ninth nationally in fewest turnovers per game (12.5) and 13th in three pointers made per game (9.9).
• Mary Gedaka leads the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.674), while ranking seventh in rebounding (7.2) and 13th in scoring (13.1).
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Villanova, 10-1. The Musketeers lone win in the series was a 74-67 overtime victory on Dec. 31, 2015 at Cintas Center.
• Sophomore Deja Ross scored a team-high 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting with three 3-pointers on Saturday as Xavier dropped its BIG EAST opener, 68-61, at Georgetown. She added three rebounds and one block in 26 minutes of action. She has now scored in double figures five times during her career.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted her sixth double-double of the season and seventh of her career, scoring 12 points to go along with a team-high 11 rebounds. She added one block and one steal.
• Na'Teshia Owens, Princess Stewart and Tierra Floyd all chipped in eight points. Aly Reiff added four rebounds and a team-high three steals.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (10.2), while ranking 12th in scoring (13.7). The forward's 10.2 rebounds per game also ranks 37th nationally. She also averages 2.3 steals per game, ranking sixth in the conference.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks third in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.456), while ranking 33rd nationally. She is 31-for-68 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks sixth nationally among freshmen in three pointers made.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 points per game. The guard leads all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring, while ranking 30th overall.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks second on the team in scoring (11.9) and assists (4.2). The guard ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assists. Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham paces the team in assists, averaging 4.3 assists per game to rank sixth in the conference.
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.216), while ranking seventh nationally. The Musketeers also rank fifth in steals (9.6) and fifth in three pointers made per game (9.2).
• The Musketeers are one win away from matching last year's win total (10-20). The win over New Orleans gave Xavier nine non-conference wins, the most non-conference wins since the 2015-16 season (9-3 record; finished 17-13 overall).
• Xavier is averaging 10.8 more points per game this season than a year ago (69.4 ppg vs 58.6 ppg). The Musketeers have also posted a .419 field-goal percentage to last season's .396 clip.
• Xavier has had a player score 20 or more points in a game six times this season. The Musketeers only had one player score 20 or more points in a game twice last season.
• Xavier has scored 80 or more points in a game four times this season. The Musketeers' season-high last season was 75 points against Furman on Dec. 17.
• 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 43 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 36-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers took on three opponents for the first time in school history in Fairfield, North Alabama and Alabama State.
• Xavier played 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.
• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Jan. 4 against St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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THE MATCHUP VS VILLANOVA |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-3, 0-1) at VILLANOVA WILDCATS (8-3, 0-1)
Game Info - Monday, Dec. 31 - 1 p.m. ET - Finneran Pavilion (6,500)
Live Video - BEDN - bit.ly/2EVKeCm
Live Stats - bit.ly/2RlNRYZ
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ABOUT VILLANOVA |
2018-19 Record: 8-3 (0-1 BIG EAST)2017-18 Record: 23-9 (12-6 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA - Second Round
Series History: Xavier trails, 10-1
Last Meeting: Villanova 89, Xavier 50 (01/26/18 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
• Villanova ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (54.7), while ranking third in field-goal percentage defense (.358), three-point field-goal percentage defense (.248) and three pointers made per game (9.9).
• The Wildcats rank ninth nationally in fewest turnovers per game (12.5) and 13th in three pointers made per game (9.9).
• Mary Gedaka leads the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.674), while ranking seventh in rebounding (7.2) and 13th in scoring (13.1).
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VILLANOVA SERIES HISTORY |
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Villanova, 10-1. The Musketeers lone win in the series was a 74-67 overtime victory on Dec. 31, 2015 at Cintas Center.
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Sophomore Deja Ross scored a team-high 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting with three 3-pointers on Saturday as Xavier dropped its BIG EAST opener, 68-61, at Georgetown. She added three rebounds and one block in 26 minutes of action. She has now scored in double figures five times during her career.
• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted her sixth double-double of the season and seventh of her career, scoring 12 points to go along with a team-high 11 rebounds. She added one block and one steal.
• Na'Teshia Owens, Princess Stewart and Tierra Floyd all chipped in eight points. Aly Reiff added four rebounds and a team-high three steals.
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INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES |
• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (10.2), while ranking 12th in scoring (13.7). The forward's 10.2 rebounds per game also ranks 37th nationally. She also averages 2.3 steals per game, ranking sixth in the conference.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks third in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.456), while ranking 33rd nationally. She is 31-for-68 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks sixth nationally among freshmen in three pointers made.
• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 points per game. The guard leads all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring, while ranking 30th overall.
• Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks second on the team in scoring (11.9) and assists (4.2). The guard ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assists. Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham paces the team in assists, averaging 4.3 assists per game to rank sixth in the conference.
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TEAM NOTABLES |
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.216), while ranking seventh nationally. The Musketeers also rank fifth in steals (9.6) and fifth in three pointers made per game (9.2).
• The Musketeers are one win away from matching last year's win total (10-20). The win over New Orleans gave Xavier nine non-conference wins, the most non-conference wins since the 2015-16 season (9-3 record; finished 17-13 overall).
• Xavier is averaging 10.8 more points per game this season than a year ago (69.4 ppg vs 58.6 ppg). The Musketeers have also posted a .419 field-goal percentage to last season's .396 clip.
• Xavier has had a player score 20 or more points in a game six times this season. The Musketeers only had one player score 20 or more points in a game twice last season.
• Xavier has scored 80 or more points in a game four times this season. The Musketeers' season-high last season was 75 points against Furman on Dec. 17.
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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 43 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 36-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• The Musketeers took on three opponents for the first time in school history in Fairfield, North Alabama and Alabama State.
• Xavier played 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 |
• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Jan. 4 against St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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