Xavier, Eastern Kentucky Set for Sunday Matinee

Sunday, December 8

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

Eastern Kentucky

Xavier, Eastern Kentucky Set for Sunday Matinee

12.07.19 | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch Live Xavier Notes (PDF)EKU Notes (PDF)

Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues its homestand on Sunday, Dec. 8 vs Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.

THE MATCHUP VS EASTERN KENTUCKY

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-6) vs EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS (5-3)
Game Info - Sunday, Dec. 8 - 2 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - bit.ly/36aeSlU
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu

ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY

2019-20 Record: 5-3
2018-19 Record: 2-27 (0-18 OVC)
2018-19 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 5-6
Last meeting: Xavier 66, Eastern Kentucky 61 - Nov. 12, 2011 (Cintas Center - Cincinnati, Ohio)

NOTABLES
• Eastern Kentucky has won five games this season after only winning two games a year ago. The Colonels return four starters from last year's team, including Bria Bass who leads the team in scoring (11.9). She also ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.3).
• I'Liyah Green has added 6.3 points per game and team-high 7.6 rebounds per game, ranking third in the OVC. She also ranks 10th in the OVC in blocks (8).
• Eastern Kentucky ranks second in the OVC in field-goal percentage defense (.369) and fourth in rebounding margin (+2.9).
• The Colonels were picked to finish 12th in the Preseason OVC Coaches' Poll.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Eastern Kentucky, 5-6. The Musketeers are 4-2 in home games vs the Colonels.

• Xavier has won four straight in the series and five of the last six meetings. The Musketeers won the last meeting between the two schools, 66-61, on Nov. 12, 2011 at Cintas Center.

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 is coming off a 62-53 loss to Colorado on Friday, Dec. 6.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham nearly missed her first career double-double, scoring 12 points to go along with a career-high nine assists. She was 4-for-7 from the floor with two 3-pointers.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham had a career-high six steals vs the Buffaloes. The Musketeers recorded a season-high 16 steals, the team's fourth game of the year with 10 or more steals. Junior A'riana Gray added three steals.

• Junior A'riana Gray scored a team-high 17 points on 7-for-19 shooting. The forward also led the team on the glass with nine rebounds.

NOTABLES

• A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.0) this season, while adding 13.8 points per game - ranking 14th in the BIG EAST.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross ranks second on the team in scoring (9.3) and third in rebounding (3.9) this season. She averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross leads the team in field-goal percentage, hitting 46.4 percent (26-for-56) of her shot attempts. She also ranks second in total steals (14).

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0), while leading the team in total assists (28). The guard ranks tied for fifth in the conference in assists (4.0).

BIG EAST STATS

• Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in steals, averaging 8.9 steals per game. Junior Aaliyah Dunham ranks tied for second in the conference in steals per game (2.4), while sophomore Carrie Gross ranks ninth (2.0).

• Xavier also ranks fifth in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage (.341). Junior Aaliyah Dunham ranks tied for fourth in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage (.500).

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 closes its three-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 14 vs Cincinnati in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Tip-off lis slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.