A'riana Gray Posts Second Double-Double of Season vs Northwestern

Saturday, December 21

West Palm Beach, Fla.

2:30 p.m.

Xavier University

1-10

Northwestern

10-1

Northwestern

Xavier

A'riana Gray Posts Second Double-Double of Season vs Northwestern

12.21.19 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Musketeers conclude non-conference action with 79-59 loss to Wildcats at the West Palm Beach Invitational

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Junior A'riana Gray posted her second double-double (14 points, 17 rebounds) of the season on Saturday afternoon as Xavier closed non-conference action with a 79-59 loss to Northwestern at the West Palm Beach Invitational. The two-day tournament was hosted by Keiser University at the Student Life Center.

The Musketeers dropped to 1-10 on the year, while Northwestern improved to 10-1.

FIRST HALF

• Xavier led 5-4 in the opening quarter before the Wildcats scored 10 unanswered points to force a Xavier timeout at the 4:41 mark. The Musketeers battled back to close within three points, 20-17, on an A'riana Gray basket with 1:23 left in the quarter. The Wildcats end the frame by scoring six unanswered points to make the score, 26-17.

• The Musketeers opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run capped by a Lauren Wasylson three pointer, getting Xavier within four points (26-22) and forcing a Northwestern timeout. The Wildcats responded by scoring 11 unanswered points to take their largest lead of the half, 37-22, with 3:05 left on the clock. Xavier bounced back by using an 8-3 run to end the half, getting the Musketeers within 10 points (40-30).

• Lauren Wasylson paced the Musketeers with nine points, while A'riana Gray and Carrie Gross both added eight. Gray pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. Northwestern held a 19-17 advantage on the glass and scored eight more points off of turnovers (20-12).

SECOND HALF

• Xavier trimmed its deficit to single digits twice in the third quarter before the Wildcats used an 11-3 run midway through the frame to take a 54-37 advantage, forcing a Xavier timeout. Lauren Wasylson scored five straight points coming out of the timeout to get the Musketeers within 12 points (54-42) with 3:51 on the clock. Northwestern outscored Xavier, 13-4, to end the quarter and take a 67-46 advantage.

• Xavier opened the final quarter on a 9-2 run capped by an Ayanna Townsend jumper, getting the Musketeers within 14 points (69-55). The Musketeers outscored Northwestern, 13-12, in the final quarter.

NOTABLES

• Junior A'riana Gray posted her second double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds. The 17 rebounds matched her season high and are the most rebounds in a game by a BIG EAST player this season. The forward added two assists and one steal.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross scored a career-high 16 points on 6-for-11 with two 3-pointers. She added two rebounds and a steal.

• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points on 4-fo-8 shooting. The guard added four rebounds and two assists.

• Northwestern held a 39-35 advantage on the glass and score 13 more points off of turnovers (24-11).

UP NEXT

• Xavier opens BIG EAST action on Sunday, Dec. 29 vs St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.

HIGHLIGHTS