Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short at Villanova

Monday, December 31

Villanova, Pa.

1 p.m.

Xavier University

9-4,0-2BIG EAST

Villanova

9-3,1-1BIG EAST

Xavier

Villanova

Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short at Villanova

12.31.18 | Women's Basketball

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

Three Musketeers score in double figures; Xavier falls, 75-71

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Xavier women's basketball got within two points with under a minute left in regulation after trailing by 29 points before the comeback effort fell short, 75-71, on Monday afternoon at Villanova. The Musketeers moved to 9-4 (0-2 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improved to 9-3 (1-1 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter as the Musketeers hit 25 percent (4-for-16) of their shot attempts and the Wildcats hit 33 percent (5-for-15) of their shot attempts. Villanova led 13-9 after one quarter play.

• Villanova hit its first two shots of the second quarter, using a 5-2 run to build a seven-point lead (18-11) and force a Xavier timeout. The Wildcats hit five 3-pointers in the frame, leading by as many as 12 points three times before taking a 32-22 lead into the locker room.

• Aaliyah Dunham led Xavier with eight points at the break, while Princess Stewart added seven. A'riana Gray had five rebounds and one steal in the opening half as the Musketeers forced 11 Villanova turnovers. The Wildcats held a 23-15 advantage on the glass.

SECOND HALF

• Villanova went 4-for-4 from behind the arc to open the second half, using a 12-2 run to take its first 20-point lead of the game (44-24) to force a Xavier timeout. The Wildcats hit 73.3 percent (11-for-15) of their shot attempts in the frame, outscoring Xavier, 29-17, to take a 61-39 lead into the final quarter.

• Xavier hit 60 percent (6-for-10) of its shot attempts in the third quarter. The Musketeers were also 2-for-2 from behind the arc.

• The Musketeers opened the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run on 4-for-5 shooting with two three pointers, closing their deficit to 13 points (64-51) with 7:00 left in regulation. Xavier pushed it to a 27-7 run to get within two points on a Carrie Gross free throw with 58 seconds left in regulation. Villanova outscored Xavier, 7-5, in the final minute of play to hold off the comeback and make the final score, 75-71.

• Xavier was 12-for-18 from the floor in the final quarter with three 3-pointers, while limiting the Wildcats to a .308 field-goal percentage (4-for-13).

NOTABLES

• Sophomore Na'Teshia Owens scored a team-high 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. She added two assists and two rebounds.

• Sophomore Princess Stewart added 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The guard chipped in four rebounds and two steals.

• Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham recorded 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting. She added two steals, one rebound and one assist.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. She added two assists and one steal.

• Xavier forced 20 Villanova turnovers, converting the miscues into 26 points. The Wildcats entered the game averaging only 12.4 turnovers per game to rank ninth in the NCAA. Xavier had 13 steals on the day, its eighth game of the year with 10 or more steals.

• Villanova won the battle on the glass, 34-29. Xavier held a 38-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 16-3 advantage in fastbreak points.

• Xavier finished the game with a .483 field-goal percentage (28-for-58), its second highest percentage this season.

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.

HIGHLIGHTS