Musketeers Drop West Palm Beach Invitational Opener to Florida

Friday, December 20

West Palm Beach, Fla.

4:45 p.m.

Xavier University

1-9

Florida

8-3

Xavier

Florida

Musketeers Drop West Palm Beach Invitational Opener to Florida

12.20.19 | Women's Basketball

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Sophomore Lauren Wasylson scored a season-high 15 points

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sophomore Lauren Wasylson scored a season-high 15 points on Friday evening as Xavier dropped its opening game of the West Palm Beach Invitational to Florida, 67-64. The two-day tournament is being hosted by Keiser University at the Student Life Center.

The Musketeers closed within one point with 12 seconds left in regulation and had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but the comeback effort fell short. Xavier dropped to 1-9 on the year, while Florida improved to 8-3 - matching its win total from last season.

FIRST HALF

• Florida started the game on a 7-0 run on 3-for-4 shooting before a Courtney Prenger basket got the Musketeers on the scoreboard. The Gators led by as many as 11 points (15-4) with 5:40 left in the first quarter before Xavier used a 10-4 run capped by a Sarah Leyendecker three pointer to get within five (19-14). Ayanna Townsend sank a free throw with 1:28 on the clock to make the score, 19-15. Neither team would score in the final 1:28 of the first quarter.

• Xavier opened the second quarter on a 7-3 run capped by a Lauren Wasylson three pointer at the 5:51 mark, tying the game at 22. Florida scored five straight points to regain the lead before a pair of Lauren Wasylson free throws made the score 27-24 with 3:46 left in the half. Florida outscored Xavier, 8-4, in the closing minutes to take a 35-28 lead into the locker room.

• Four Musketeers had five points in the first half: Lauren Wasylson, Ayanna Townsend, Sarah Leyendecker and Morgan Sharps.

• Florida held a 23-18 advantage on the glass. Sarah Leyendecker paced Xavier with four rebounds. Ayanna Townsend added three rebounds and two blocks.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier got within three points (40-37) at the 2:33 mark in the third quarter on a Carrie Gross jumper. Florida's Nina Rickards made a jumper on the next possession to make the score 42-37. An Aaliyah Dunham free throw at the 1:23 mark made the score, 42-38, heading into the final quarter of play.

• Ayanna Townsend made the first basket of the fourth quarter at the 8:15 mark, getting the Musketeers within two points (42-40). Florida used a 13-4 run to take an 11-point lead (55-44) with 5:17 left in regulation. Xavier battled back to get within one point (65-64) with 12 seconds left in regulation on an Aaliyah Dunham three pointer. The Musketeers outscored the Gators, 20-10, during the run - going 5-for-7 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the foul line.

• Florida's Ariel Johnson made back-to-back free throws with seven seconds left in the game, making the score 67-64. Aaliyah Dunham brought the ball up the court and missed the game-tying three pointer as time expired.

NOTABLES

• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson scored a season-high 15 points on 4-for-8 shooting. The guard was 3-for-5 from behind the arc and 4-for-4 from the foul line. She added four rebounds, one assist and one steal.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross added 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting. The guard chipped in three rebounds, three assists and one steal.

• Junior A'riana Gray nearly missed her second double-double of the year, recording nine points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes of action. The forward added three assists and one steal.

• Freshman Morgan Sharps added eight points. while Aaliyah Dunham and Ayanna Townsend both scored seven. Townsend added four rebounds and three blocks.

• Florida won the battle on the glass, 44-38, and scored eight more points in the paint (36-28). Xavier scored eight more points (14-6) off of turnovers than the Gators.

UP NEXT

• Xavier closes out non-conference action vs Northwestern at the West Palm Beach Invitational. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday from the Student Life Center.

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