Xavier Ends Homestand Against BIG EAST Leader Butler on Friday Night

Friday, January 11

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

Butler

Xavier Ends Homestand Against BIG EAST Leader Butler on Friday Night

01.09.19 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live Live Stats XU Notes (PDF)Butler Notes (PDF)

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball concludes its three-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 11 against BIG EAST leader Butler. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

THE MATCHUP VS BUTLER

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (10-5, 1-3) vs BUTLER BULLDOGS (14-1, 4-0)
Game Info - Friday, Jan. 11 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - BEDN - bit.ly/2HbxcTU
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu

ABOUT BUTLER

2018-19 Record: 14-1 (4-0 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Record: 15-17 (6-12 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 26-19
Last Meeting: Xavier 57, Butler 54 (01/25/18 - Cintas Center)

NOTABLES
• The Bulldogs lead the BIG EAST in scoring defense (51.9) and steals (12.5), while ranking second in field-goal percentage (.435) and field-goal percentage defense (.343). Butler ranks seventh in the NCAA in scoring defense and third in total steals.
• Senior Whitney Jennings ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in scoring (13.9) and fourth in steals (2.2). Classmate Michelle Weaver leads the conference in steals (3.7), while ranking ninth nationally.
• Senior Tori Schickel ranks third in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.9), fifth in blocks (1.4) and 16th in scoring (12.7). She has 22 double-doubles to lead the conference and rank 22nd in the NCAA.

BUTLER SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Butler, 26-19. The Musketeers have won the last two meetings between the two schools and are 3-1 in the last four regular-season meetings.

• The last eight meetings have all been decided by 10 or fewer points.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• A'riana Gray was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday for her on-court performance last week. The sophomore forward averaged 14.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in three contests last week. She earns BIG EAST weekly honors for the fourth time this season.

• The Cleveland, Ohio, native added a .552 field-goal percentage (16-for-29) and was 4-for-7 from behind the arc and 7-for-10 from the foul line. She also had six assists, four steals and two blocks.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a 63-62 overtime victory against Seton Hall on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak in the series. The Musketeers have now won two overtime games this season and are 3-1 in their last four overtime games dating back to last season.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 19 points to go along with 22 rebounds. The forward was 7-for-10 from the floor and added two assists, two steals and one block.

• A'riana Gray's 22 rebounds were the most by a BIG EAST player this season, while ranking tied for third in the NCAA. The 22 rebounds also rank second in school history. She is the first player to post 20 or more rebounds in a game since Ta'Shia Phillips (21 rebounds) on March 21, 2010 against East Tennessee State (NCAA Tournament).

• Junior Na'Teshia Owens scored 18 points to go along with six rebounds. Sophomore Princess Stewart added 13 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds.

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES

• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.7), while ranking ninth in scoring (13.4). The forward's 9.7 rebounds per game also ranks 44th nationally. She also averages 2.1 steals per game, ranking seventh in the conference.

• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks second in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.440), while ranking 37th nationally. She is 33-for-75 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks ninth nationally among freshmen in three pointers made. Her 33 made three pointers is one more than Xavier's individual player total for made three pointers from last season (Aaliyah Dunham - 32).

• Junior Na'Teshia Owens averaged a team-high 16.7 points per game last week. She added 4.0 rebounds per game and a .463 field-goal percentage (19-for-41). The guard ranks second on the team in scoring (12.5) and assists (3.7).

• In seven games this season, sophomore Princess Stewart is averaging 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She has added 16 assists and 17 steals in those games. The guard averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last year (30 games) and totaled 10 steals.

• Sophomore Deja Ross pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds against Seton Hall. She ranks second on the team in rebounding (4.5), while adding 6.4 points per game.

• In BIG EAST only games, Xavier has two players ranked in the top-12 for scoring. Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks eighth (14.5), while sophomore A'riana Gray ranks 12th (13.8), respectively.

TEAM NOTABLES

• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.260), while ranking 20th nationally. The Musketeers also rank fifth in steals (9.3) and fifth in three pointers made per game (8.8).

• The Musketeers have now matched 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 9.7 more points per game this season than a year ago (68.3 ppg vs 58.6 ppg). The Musketeers have also posted a .413 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.

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.

2018 SIGNING CLASS

• Head Coach Brian Neal announced the addition of Hannah Noveroske and Courtney Prenger to the 2019-20 roster on Nov. 15.

• Noveroske is a 6-foot-4 center from Michigan City, Ind. She averaged 20.6 points, 15.7 rebounds and 6.9 blocks per game as a junior. She recently earned all-state honors in volleyball after helping her team to a sectional title.

• Prenger helped her team win the 2018 OHSAA Division IV State Title, averaging 10.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-1 forward from Minster, Ohio, is a three-time all-conference first-team selection. She is also a standout track and field athlete, participating in the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays at the 2016 and 2017 OHSAA State Championships.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers hit the road for back-to-back BIG EAST games at Creighton (Jan. 18) and Providence (Jan. 20) next weekend.