Xavier, Wright State Set for Saturday Matinee

Saturday, November 23

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

Wright State

Xavier, Wright State Set for Saturday Matinee

11.22.19 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live Live Stats XU Notes (PDF)

Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 23 against Wright State. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.

THE MATCHUP VS WRIGHT STATE

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-3) vs WRIGHT STATE RAIDERS (1-1)
Game Info - Saturday, Nov. 23 - 2 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - bit.ly/3335AGo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu

ABOUT WRIGHT STATE

2019-20 Record: 1-1
2018-19 Record: 27-7 (16-2 Horizon)
2018-19 Postseason: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
Series History: Xavier leads, 12-9

NOTABLES
• Wright State was picked to finish tied for first in the Preseason Horizon League Coaches' Poll. Green Bay and Wright State both collected four, first-place votes.
• The Raiders had two players earn preseason all-conference honors in Michal Miller (First Team) and Angel Baker (Second Team). Wright State returns two starters (Michal Miller and Tyler Frierson) from last year's NCAA Tournament team.
• Michal Miller leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 16 points per game. Tyler Frierson has added a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game to go along with 7.5 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier leads the all-time series with Wright State, 12-9. The Musketeers have lost two straight in the series, most recently dropping a 79-54 contest at Wright State on Dec. 15, 2013.

SERIES HISTORY - LAST FIVE
Dec. 15, 2013 - L, 79-54 (Dayton, Ohio)
Dec. 15, 2012 - L, 66-65 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Nov. 23, 1999 - W, 73-56 (Dayton, Ohio)
Nov. 17, 1998 - W, 89-57 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
March 5, 1995 - W, 78-69 (DeKalb, Ill.)

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).

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier ended a three-game road swing with a 70-49 loss at Ball State.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham led the Musketeers in scoring with 10 points. The guard added a team-high three assists and three steals.

• Ashley Gomez and Lauren Wasylson both added seven points. Carrie Gross chipped in six points and three steals.

• Deja Ross led the team on the glass with nine rebounds. Sarah Leyendecker added six rebounds and a block in 18 minutes off the bench.

• Xavier had 10 steals for the second consecutive game. The Musketeers forced 20 turnovers, covering the miscues into 14 points.

NOTABLES

• A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.7) this season, while adding 15.7 points per game - ranking 11th in the BIG EAST. The junior forward ranks tied for first on the team in steals (6) with Carrie Gross.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0) and rebounding (4.0) this season. She averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham ranks second on the team in scoring (9.3), while leading the team in total assists (9). She ranks first on the team in made three pointers (5) with Lauren Wasylson.

• Senior Ashley Gomez leads the team in field-goal percentage (.545) this season. The guard is 6-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-7 from behind the arc. She is averaging 4.8 points per game this season after averaging 1.6 points per game as a junior.

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.

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.

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.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

2019-20 BIG EAST HONOREES
Nov. 11 - A'riana Gray - Weekly Honor Roll

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Robert Morris. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m.