Xavier Continues Non-Conference Action at Robert Morris

Sunday, December 1

Moon Township, Pa.

12 p.m.

Xavier University

Robert Morris

Xavier Continues Non-Conference Action at Robert Morris

11.30.19 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live Live Stats

Tip-off is slated for noon from UPMC Events Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball returns to non-conference action at Robert Morris on Sunday, Dec. 1. Tip-off is slated for noon from the UPMC Events Center.

THE MATCHUP AT ROBERT MORRIS

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-4) at ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS (3-3)
Game Info - Sunday, Dec. 1 - 12 p.m. - UPMC Events Center (4,000)
Live Video - bit.ly/2R2yT9L
Live Stats - bit.ly/37Oaafr

ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS

2019-20 Record: 3-3
2018-19 Record: 22-11 (16-2 NEC)
2018-19 Postseason: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
Series History: Xavier leads, 4-0

NOTABLES
• The Colonials posted a 22-11 (16-2 NEC) record last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Robert Morris was defeated by Louisville in the first round.
• Robert Morris is 3-3 this season with wins over LaSalle, Youngstown State and Pitt-Johnstown.
• Nneka Ezeigbo leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 14.8 points per game. She also leads the team on the glass, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier leads the all-time series with Robert Morris, 4-0. The Musketeers won the last meeting between the two schools, 70-65, in overtime on Nov. 30, 2014 at Cintas Center.

SERIES HISTORY
Nov. 30, 2014 - W, 70-65 OT (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Nov. 14, 2008 - W, 79-49 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 30, 2005 - W, 93-51 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 30, 1996 - W, 92-75 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

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 dropped its last contest, 86-74, against Wright State on Nov. 23.

• Xavier hit a season-high 12 three pointers with four Musketeers connecting on at least one three pointer. The Musketeers also scored a season-high 74 points and dished out a season-high 16 assists.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross scored a career-high 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. The guard added four steals, three rebounds and three assists.

• Freshman Morgan Sharps scored a season-high 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting. The guard scored five 3-pointers, while adding three assists, one rebound and one steal.

• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson scored a season-high 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting. The guard scored four 3-pointers, while adding two rebounds in 14 minutes of action off the bench.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham scored eight points to go along with a team-high five steals and a team-high six assists. Sophomore Sarah Leyendecker added nine points, five rebounds and two blocks in her first start in a Xavier uniform.

• Xavier had 10 steals for the third consecutive game. The Musketeers forced 20 Wright State turnovers, converting the miscues into 23 points. The Musketeers also held a 24-6 advantage in fastbreak 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.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross ranks second on the team in scoring (10.2) and third in rebounding (3.8) this season. She averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign.

• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson leads the team in three-pointers made (9) with a .409 three-point field goal percentage (9-for-22). Freshman Morgan Sharps has hit 40 percent (8-for-20) of her three point attempts and is 6-for-14 from behind the arc in her last two games.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0), while leading the team in total assists (15).

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 opens a three-game homestand on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.