Leyendecker Posts First Career Double-Double, Xavier Falls to St. John's in BIG EAST Opener

Sunday, December 29

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 P.M.

Xavier University

1-11,0-1Big East

St. John's

8-4,1-0Big East

St. John's (NY)

Xavier

Leyendecker Posts First Career Double-Double, Xavier Falls to St. John's in BIG EAST Opener

12.29.19 | Women's Basketball

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The forward had a career-high 18 points and 13 rebounds vs the Red Storm

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Redshirt-sophomore Sarah Leyendecker posted her first career double-double on Sunday afternoon, scoring a career-high 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds as the Musketeers dropped their BIG EAST opener to St. John's, 75-67. Xavier dropped to 1-11 (0-1 BIG EAST), while the Red Storm improved to 8-4 (1-0 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• St. John's opened the game on a 9-4 run on 3-for-3 shooting to take an early lead. Xavier closed within three points (13-10) on an A'riana Gray layup at the 4:21 mark before the Red Storm closed the frame on a 7-2 run, taking a 20-12 advantage.

• The Red Storm hit their first basket of the second quarter, taking their first double-figure lead of the game, 22-12. Xavier battled back to get within three points (30-27) with 1:29 left in the half on a Deja Ross three pointer. St. John's ended the half on a 5-2 run to take a 35-29 lead into the locker room. The Musketeers outscored St. John's, 17-15, in the second quarter behind a .500 field-goal percentage (7-for-14).

• Sarah Leyendecker led the Musketeers with seven points on 3-for-3 shooting at intermission. The forward also had five rebounds.

• Carrie Gross added six points, while Aaliyah Dunham had six assists.

SECOND HALF

• St. John's opened the half on a 6-2 run to regain its double-figure lead, 41-31. Xavier closed within seven points three times in the third quarter, and as late as the :22 mark on a Sarah Leyendecker free throw - making the score 59-52. The Red Storm scored with four seconds left on the clock to make the score 61-52.

• The Red Storm hit their first two shots of the final quarter, taking their largest lead of the game, 65-52. Xavier responded with a 12-4 run on 4-for-6 shooting to closed with five points (69-64) with 54 seconds left in regulation. St. John's closed the game by going 2-for-2 from the floor and 2-for-3 from the foul line to escape with the 75-67 win.

• A'riana Gray scored 16 points in the second half on 5-for-10 shooting, while Sarah Leyendecker had 11 second-half points.

NOTABLES

• Junior A'riana Gray scored a game-high 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting. She added six rebounds and two assists. The forward now has nine 20-point games in her career and two this season.

• Redshirt-sophomore Sarah Leyendecker posted her first career double-double on Sunday. The forward scored a career-high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while pulling down a career-high 13 rebounds.

• Junior Deja Ross and sophomore Carrie Gross both chipped in eight points. Junior Aaliyah Dunham added a game-high nine assists to go along with five points. The nine assists also matched Dunham's career high in assists.

• Xavier won the battle on the glass, 36-32, and scored 11 more second-chance points (15-4). St. John's scored six more points (15-9) off of turnovers.

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues BIG EAST action on Tuesday, Jan. 31 vs Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.

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