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Xavier University Athletics
Thursday, November 7
Cincinnati, Ohio
7 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Utah
Melanie Moore Era Begins on Thursday vs Utah
11.06.19 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 7 PM from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball opens the 2019 season on Thursday, Nov. 7 against Utah. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Thursday's contest is the first game for new head coach Melanie Moore.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-0) vs UTAH UTES (0-1)
Game Info - Thursday, Nov. 7 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - bit.ly/2NH7IxQ
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
2019 Record: 0-1
2018 Record: 20-10 (9-9 Pac-12)
Series History: First meeting
NOTABLES
• Utah is coming off a 68-62 road loss at Cincinnati on Tuesday night. Three players scored in double figures in the loss: Niyah Becker (13), Lola Pendande (12) and Brtnna Maxwell (11).
• Last season the Utes posted 20 wins, the program's first 20-win season since 2012-13. Utah ranked as high as No. 14 in the AP and Coaches polls last season, the first time the Utes have been ranked since 2008.
• Utah was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Melanie Moore Era begins on Thursday night at Cintas Center. She was introduced as the eighth head women's basketball coach in progam 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 19-0 in home openers when playing inside Cintas Center. Last year, the Musketeers defeated Chicago State, 91-57, on Nov. 7.
• The Musketeers are 24-13 in season openers dating back to their first season as a Division I member in 1982-83. Xavier is 17-3 in season openers over the last 20 seasons.
• 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. 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.
• 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).
• Xavier also returns starters 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). Dunhman 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.
• 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 43 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 36-5 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 Temple on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Thursday's contest is the first game for new head coach Melanie Moore.
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THE MATCHUP VS UTAH |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-0) vs UTAH UTES (0-1)
Game Info - Thursday, Nov. 7 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - bit.ly/2NH7IxQ
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
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ABOUT UTAH |
2019 Record: 0-12018 Record: 20-10 (9-9 Pac-12)
Series History: First meeting
NOTABLES
• Utah is coming off a 68-62 road loss at Cincinnati on Tuesday night. Three players scored in double figures in the loss: Niyah Becker (13), Lola Pendande (12) and Brtnna Maxwell (11).
• Last season the Utes posted 20 wins, the program's first 20-win season since 2012-13. Utah ranked as high as No. 14 in the AP and Coaches polls last season, the first time the Utes have been ranked since 2008.
• Utah was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
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START OF MEL MOORE ERA |
• The Melanie Moore Era begins on Thursday night at Cintas Center. She was introduced as the eighth head women's basketball coach in progam 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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XAVIER IN SEASON OPENERS |
• Xavier is 19-0 in home openers when playing inside Cintas Center. Last year, the Musketeers defeated Chicago State, 91-57, on Nov. 7.
• The Musketeers are 24-13 in season openers dating back to their first season as a Division I member in 1982-83. Xavier is 17-3 in season openers over the last 20 seasons.
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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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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. 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.
• 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).
• Xavier also returns starters 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). Dunhman 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.
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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 43 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 36-5 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 Temple on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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