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Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, November 16
Lawrenceville, N.J.
12 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Rider
Three-Game Road Swing Continues at Rider on Saturday
11.15.19 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Alumni Gymnasium
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues its three-game road swing at Rider on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Alumni Gymnasium.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-1) at RIDER BRONCS (1-1)
Game Info - Saturday, Nov. 16 - 12 p.m. - Alumni Gymnasium (1,650)
Live Video - es.pn/2pmQcHd
Live Stats - bit.ly/33ROg8q
2019-20 Record: 1-1
2018-19 Record: 19-13 (14-4 MAAC)
Series History: First Meeting
NOTABLES
• Senior Stella Johnson was named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, becoming the first play in program history to earn the honors. In 2018-19, she earned MAAC Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in scoring (18.8) steals (2.5). She currently leads the team in scoring with 23.5 points per game on 13-for-36 shooting.
• Amari Johnson was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, while Lea Favre earned third team honors. Johnson has scored 14 points per game this season to go along with a team-high 9.5 rebounds per game.
• Rider was picked to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Broncs dropped their season opener at Princeton (80-47) on Nov. 5 and defeated Penn State, 78-70, on Nov. 10 in State College.
• The Melanie Moore Era began on Thursday, Nov. 11 with a 70-63 win over Utah. She was introduced as the eighth head women's basketball coach in program history on April 9 at Cintas Center.
• Moore joined the Musketeers after a seven-year stint at Michigan, most recently serving as associate head coach. She helped the Wolverines to a 156-85 overall record with seven postseason berths, including three NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Glandorf, Ohio, native also has assistant coaching stops at Princeton (2007-12), Dayton (2006-07), Indiana State (2004-06) and Siena (2002-04).
• Xavier is coming off a 78-65 road loss at Temple on Thursday night. The Musketeers led 52-47 in the fourth quarter before the Owls came-from-behind to pull off the win.
• Junior A'riana Gray nearly missed her second straight double double, finishing with a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds. She added two blocks and two assists. She has now scored 20 or more points in a game eight times in her career.
• Sophomore Carrie Gross matched her career high in scoring (12) and rebounding (7). She was 4-for-10 from the floor and chipped in three assists.
• Junior Deja Ross added five rebounds, while senior Ashley Gomez recorded seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
• Junior forward A'riana Gray was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon. She earns weekly honors for the first time this season and the seventh time in her career.
• She posted her 17th career double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) in Xavier's season-opening win on Nov. 7. The Musketeers defeated Utah, 70-63, at Cintas Center.
• Through two weeks of action, Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.342). Morgan Sharps and Carrie Gross are both 2-for-3 from behind the arc this season.
• Xavier also ranks second in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounds per game (16.0). A'riana Gray paces the squad with nine offensive rebounds, while Courtney Prenger has six.
• Junior A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), while ranking sixth in scoring (18.0).
• Junior forward A'riana Gray was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Oct. 10. The Musketeers were also picked to finish eighth in the preseason coaches' poll.
• Xavier returns its leading rebounder and scorer in junior A'riana Gray. The forward averaged 13.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season. She also added a team-high 58 steals.
• A'riana Gray earned All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Team honors last season. She led the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), while ranking 10th in the NCAA.
• A'riana Gray was one of only two underclassmen to earn All-BIG EAST honors last season. St. John's Tiana England (R-So.) was also named to the honorable mention team.
• A'riana Gray finished the 2018-19 season with 344 rebounds to rank tied for 19th in the NCAA in total rebounds. The 344 rebounds also rank fifth in single-season school history.
• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson made a team-leading 57 three pointers during her first year on the team - leading all BIG EAST freshmen in the category, while ranking 11th overall in the conference. She also ranked 10th in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.383).
• Lauren Wasylson's 57 three pointers were the most by a Musketeer since Ashley Wanninger in 2013-14 (62-for-186). Her 57 three pointers also rank fourth in single-season school history by a freshman.
• Xavier also returns senior Na'Teshia Owens and juniors Aaliyah Dunham and Deja Ross. Owens averaged 11.5 points per game and ranked second on the team in total assists (89). Dunham averaged a team-leading 3.5 assists per game to go along with 8.2 points per game. Ross posted 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, respectively.
• Redshirt-sophomore Sarah Leyendecker made her season debut against Utah. The 6-foot-4 forward sat out last season due to NCAA Transfer Rules. She played in 28 games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game at Akron in 2017-18, while adding a team-high 22 blocks.
• Xavier will play 14 games at Cintas Center this season, including nine BIG EAST games.
• The Musketeers open and close BIG EAST play against St. John's. Xavier opens conference play against the Red Storm on Dec. 29 at Cintas Center before closing the year in Queens, N.Y., on March 1.
• The Musketeers have won 44 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 37-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• Six of Xavier's non-conference opponents posted winning records last season, including five teams with 20 or more wins. Five of Xavier's opponents played in a postseason tournament last season: Rider (WNIT), Wright State (NCAA), Robert Morris (NCAA), Cincinnati (WNIT) and Northwestern (WNIT).
• Xavier will play teams from nine different conferences before the start of BIG EAST play, including two teams from both the American Athletic Conference and the Pac-12 Conference. The Musketeers will also play a team from the Big Ten (Northwestern) and the Southeastern Conference (Florida).
• The Musketeers travel to the West Palm Beach Invitational on Dec. 20-21, participating in the tournament for the second time in three years. Xavier will take on Northwestern and Florida during tournament action. The tournament is being held at Keiser University.
• Xavier plays host to Cincinnati in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 14. The Musketeers had their five-game win streak in the series snapped last season, 79-61, at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier has won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the two schools.
• Xavier will play four opponents for the first time in program history: Utah, Rider, Colorado and Northwestern.
• Xavier will play two games on national television with each game being aired on FS2. The Musketeers will play at Georgetown on FS2 on Jan. 10 and at Providence on FS2 on Jan. 26.
1. DePaul (9) - 81
2. St. John's (1) - 70
3. Seton Hall - 58
4. Creighton - 50
t-5. Providence - 44
t-5. Villanova - 44
7. Butler - 43
8. Xavier - 23
9. Marquette - 19
10. Georgetown - 18
first-place votes in parentheses
• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
• Season tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2019-20 season! Season tickets start as low as $60 for all 14 home games. For more information about season tickets, fans can call the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office at 513-745-3411 ext. 7.
• Fans can choose any 4 games on the schedule for just $20. The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 14 will be available in this package.
• Seating is general admission.
• Xavier returns to action at Ball State on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is slated for 11:30 a.m. from Worthen Arena.
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THE MATCHUP AT RIDER |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-1) at RIDER BRONCS (1-1)
Game Info - Saturday, Nov. 16 - 12 p.m. - Alumni Gymnasium (1,650)
Live Video - es.pn/2pmQcHd
Live Stats - bit.ly/33ROg8q
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ABOUT RIDER |
2019-20 Record: 1-12018-19 Record: 19-13 (14-4 MAAC)
Series History: First Meeting
NOTABLES
• Senior Stella Johnson was named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, becoming the first play in program history to earn the honors. In 2018-19, she earned MAAC Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in scoring (18.8) steals (2.5). She currently leads the team in scoring with 23.5 points per game on 13-for-36 shooting.
• Amari Johnson was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, while Lea Favre earned third team honors. Johnson has scored 14 points per game this season to go along with a team-high 9.5 rebounds per game.
• Rider was picked to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Broncs dropped their season opener at Princeton (80-47) on Nov. 5 and defeated Penn State, 78-70, on Nov. 10 in State College.
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START OF MEL MOORE ERA |
• The Melanie Moore Era began on Thursday, Nov. 11 with a 70-63 win over Utah. She was introduced as the eighth head women's basketball coach in program history on April 9 at Cintas Center.
• Moore joined the Musketeers after a seven-year stint at Michigan, most recently serving as associate head coach. She helped the Wolverines to a 156-85 overall record with seven postseason berths, including three NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Glandorf, Ohio, native also has assistant coaching stops at Princeton (2007-12), Dayton (2006-07), Indiana State (2004-06) and Siena (2002-04).
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier is coming off a 78-65 road loss at Temple on Thursday night. The Musketeers led 52-47 in the fourth quarter before the Owls came-from-behind to pull off the win.
• Junior A'riana Gray nearly missed her second straight double double, finishing with a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds. She added two blocks and two assists. She has now scored 20 or more points in a game eight times in her career.
• Sophomore Carrie Gross matched her career high in scoring (12) and rebounding (7). She was 4-for-10 from the floor and chipped in three assists.
• Junior Deja Ross added five rebounds, while senior Ashley Gomez recorded seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
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BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS |
• Junior forward A'riana Gray was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon. She earns weekly honors for the first time this season and the seventh time in her career.
• She posted her 17th career double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) in Xavier's season-opening win on Nov. 7. The Musketeers defeated Utah, 70-63, at Cintas Center.
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BIG EAST STATS |
• Through two weeks of action, Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.342). Morgan Sharps and Carrie Gross are both 2-for-3 from behind the arc this season.
• Xavier also ranks second in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounds per game (16.0). A'riana Gray paces the squad with nine offensive rebounds, while Courtney Prenger has six.
• Junior A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), while ranking sixth in scoring (18.0).
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PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST |
• Junior forward A'riana Gray was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Oct. 10. The Musketeers were also picked to finish eighth in the preseason coaches' poll.
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A'RIANA GRAY - NOTABLES |
• Xavier returns its leading rebounder and scorer in junior A'riana Gray. The forward averaged 13.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season. She also added a team-high 58 steals.
• A'riana Gray earned All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Team honors last season. She led the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), while ranking 10th in the NCAA.
• A'riana Gray was one of only two underclassmen to earn All-BIG EAST honors last season. St. John's Tiana England (R-So.) was also named to the honorable mention team.
• A'riana Gray finished the 2018-19 season with 344 rebounds to rank tied for 19th in the NCAA in total rebounds. The 344 rebounds also rank fifth in single-season school history.
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WASYLSON - NOTABLES |
• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson made a team-leading 57 three pointers during her first year on the team - leading all BIG EAST freshmen in the category, while ranking 11th overall in the conference. She also ranked 10th in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.383).
• Lauren Wasylson's 57 three pointers were the most by a Musketeer since Ashley Wanninger in 2013-14 (62-for-186). Her 57 three pointers also rank fourth in single-season school history by a freshman.
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RETURNERS - NOTABLES |
• Xavier also returns senior Na'Teshia Owens and juniors Aaliyah Dunham and Deja Ross. Owens averaged 11.5 points per game and ranked second on the team in total assists (89). Dunham averaged a team-leading 3.5 assists per game to go along with 8.2 points per game. Ross posted 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, respectively.
• Redshirt-sophomore Sarah Leyendecker made her season debut against Utah. The 6-foot-4 forward sat out last season due to NCAA Transfer Rules. She played in 28 games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game at Akron in 2017-18, while adding a team-high 22 blocks.
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SCHEDULE NOTES |
• Xavier will play 14 games at Cintas Center this season, including nine BIG EAST games.
• The Musketeers open and close BIG EAST play against St. John's. Xavier opens conference play against the Red Storm on Dec. 29 at Cintas Center before closing the year in Queens, N.Y., on March 1.
• The Musketeers have won 44 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 37-5 mark at Cintas Center.
• Six of Xavier's non-conference opponents posted winning records last season, including five teams with 20 or more wins. Five of Xavier's opponents played in a postseason tournament last season: Rider (WNIT), Wright State (NCAA), Robert Morris (NCAA), Cincinnati (WNIT) and Northwestern (WNIT).
• Xavier will play teams from nine different conferences before the start of BIG EAST play, including two teams from both the American Athletic Conference and the Pac-12 Conference. The Musketeers will also play a team from the Big Ten (Northwestern) and the Southeastern Conference (Florida).
• The Musketeers travel to the West Palm Beach Invitational on Dec. 20-21, participating in the tournament for the second time in three years. Xavier will take on Northwestern and Florida during tournament action. The tournament is being held at Keiser University.
• Xavier plays host to Cincinnati in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 14. The Musketeers had their five-game win streak in the series snapped last season, 79-61, at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier has won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the two schools.
• Xavier will play four opponents for the first time in program history: Utah, Rider, Colorado and Northwestern.
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XAVIER ON NATIONAL TV |
• Xavier will play two games on national television with each game being aired on FS2. The Musketeers will play at Georgetown on FS2 on Jan. 10 and at Providence on FS2 on Jan. 26.
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PRESEASON BIG EAST COACHES' POLL |
1. DePaul (9) - 81
2. St. John's (1) - 70
3. Seton Hall - 58
4. Creighton - 50
t-5. Providence - 44
t-5. Villanova - 44
7. Butler - 43
8. Xavier - 23
9. Marquette - 19
10. Georgetown - 18
first-place votes in parentheses
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XU BASKETBALL HISTORY |
• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
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SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW |
• Season tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2019-20 season! Season tickets start as low as $60 for all 14 home games. For more information about season tickets, fans can call the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office at 513-745-3411 ext. 7.
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MINI PACKS ON SALE NOW |
• Fans can choose any 4 games on the schedule for just $20. The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 14 will be available in this package.
• Seating is general admission.
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UP NEXT |
• Xavier returns to action at Ball State on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is slated for 11:30 a.m. from Worthen Arena.
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