Musketeers End BIG EAST Road Swing at Butler on Friday Night

Friday, February 8

Indianapolis, Ind.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

Butler

Musketeers End BIG EAST Road Swing at Butler on Friday Night

02.06.19 | Women's Basketball

Watch - BEDN Live Stats XU Notes (PDF)

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Hinkle Fieldhouse

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball ends its three-game BIG EAST road swing at Butler on Friday, Jan. 8. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Hinkle Fieldhouse.

THE MATCHUP AT BUTLER

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (11-11, 2-9) at BUTLER BULLDOGS (17-5, 7-4)
Game Info - Friday, Feb. 8 - 7 p.m. ET - Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100)
Live Video - BEDN - bit.ly/2CTfQWM
Live Stats - bit.ly/2RYAdMs

ABOUT BUTLER

2018-19 Record: 17-5 (7-4 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Record: 15-17 (6-12 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 27-19
Last Meeting: Butler 63, Xavier 41 (01/11/19) - (Cincinnati, Ohio - Cintas Center)

NOTABLES
• Butler leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense (57.3) and steals (11.8), while ranking second in scoring margin (+11.2), field-goal percentage (.428) and field-goal percentage defense (.361). The Bulldogs rank sixth in the NCAA in total steals (260) and 33rd in scoring defense.
• Senior Tori Schickel ranks fourth in the conference in rebounding (8.9) and 15th in scoring (12.9). Senior Whitney Jennings ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.0), while classmate Michele Weaver ranks first in steals (3.4) and fourth in assists (4.5). Weaver also ranks seventh in the NCAA in total steals (75).
• Butler is 9-2 in home games this season. The Bulldogs are also 1-3 in their last four outings.

BUTLER SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Butler, 27-19. The Musketeers are 3-2 in the last five regular-season meetings with the Bulldogs.

• The Musketeers are 3-2 when playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14. Xavier has won two straight games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

• Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by 10 or fewer points.

LAST TIME OUT VS THE BULLDOGS

• Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 63-41, at Cintas Center on Jan. 11.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray was 6-for-9 from the floor, scoring a team-high 15 points to go along with 21 rebounds. The 21 rebounds rank third in single-game school history.

• Sophomore Princess Stewart added seven points, three assists and a team-high three steals. The guard added two rebounds.

• Freshman Lauren Wasylson chipped in six points, two steals and one assist. Sophomore Deja Ross added five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a 70-41 road loss at St. John's on Sunday afternoon.

• Three Xavier players scored seven points: Na'Teshia Owens, Aaliyah Dunham and Na'Teshia Owens. Freshman Carrie Gross chipped in six points, while sophomore Deja Ross and freshman Maddy Johnson added five.

• Sophomore Deja Ross led the team on the glass with eight rebounds, while A'riana Gray posted six. Freshman Carrie Gross added four rebounds.

• The 41 points were the Musketeers' second fewest points on the year, while the 16 field goals (16-for-52) matched the team's season low.

GRAY'S BREAKOUT SEASON

• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.3), while ranking 12th in scoring (13.5). The forward's 11.3 rebounds per game also ranks 16th nationally.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in double-doubles with 12, while also ranking 17th nationally. She has 248 rebounds on the year to rank 11th in the NCAA.

• In 11 BIG EAST games, A'riana Gray is averaging 13.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. She also has a team-high 18 steals and 12 assists in those games.

• A'riana Gray posted a career-high seven steals against Creighton on Jan. 18. She averages 2.0 steals per game, ranking eighth in the conference.

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES

• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.393), while ranking 73rd nationally. She is 46-for-117 from behind the arc and leads all BIG EAST freshmen in total three pointers made. The guard ranks 13th nationally among freshmen in three pointers made. Her 46 made three pointers are 14 more than Xavier's individual player total for made three pointers from last season (Aaliyah Dunham - 32).

• In 14 games this season, sophomore Princess Stewart is averaging 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She has added 28 assists and 25 steals in those games. The guard averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last year (30 games) and totaled 10 steals.

• Sophomore Aaliyah Dunham ranks ninth in the BIG EAST in assists (3.3) and eighth in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.8). The guard has also added 8.6 points per game this season. She averaged 2.5 assists per game last season as a freshman.

• Junior Na'Teshia Owens ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in assists (3.5). The guard ranks second on the team in scoring (12.8) and third in total steals (27). She dished matched her career high in assists (8) at Seton Hall on Friday night.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray has averaged 7.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in three career meetings against Butler. She has posted a .571 field-goal percentage (8-for-14) in those meetings.

TEAM NOTABLES

• Xavier ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in steals (8.4) and fourth in three pointers made (8.7). The 8.7 three pointers made per game rank 23rd in the NCAA.

• Xavier drained 13 three pointers at Seton Hall on Feb. 1, the team's seventh game of the season with 10 or more three pointers.

• Xavier is averaging 6.0 more points per game this season than a year ago (64.6 ppg vs 58.6 ppg). Xavier already has 13 more total blocks (68-55) than a year ago and is averaging 2.3 more steals per game (8.4 - 6.1).

• Xavier has had a player score 20 or more points in a game eight times this season. The Musketeers only had one player score 20 or more points in a game twice last season.

• Xavier has scored 80 or more points in a game five times this season. The Musketeers' season-high last season was 75 points against Furman on Dec. 17.

• The Musketeers have matched last year's win total (10-20). The win over New Orleans gave Xavier nine non-conference wins, the most non-conference wins since the 2015-16 season (9-3 record; finished 17-13 overall).

YOUNG MUSKETEERS

• Xavier is the only team in the BIG EAST without a graduate student or senior on its roster. The Musketeers only have three upperclassmen (juniors), and have 10 underclassmen – ranked with Georgetown and Providence for the most underclassmen in the BIG EAST.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• Xavier has had a player named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll five times this season. Lauren Wasylson was also named Freshman of the Week on Nov. 19 and A'riana Gray earned Player of the Week Honors on Dec. 3, the first Xavier player to earn the honors since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.

Jan. 21	A'riana Gray	Weekly Honor Roll
Jan. 7	A'riana Gray	Weekly Honor Roll
Dec. 17	Na'Teshia Owens	Weekly Honor Roll
Dec. 3	A'riana Gray	Player of the Week
Nov. 26	A'riana Gray	Weekly Honor Roll
Nov. 19	Lauren Wasylson	Freshman of the Week
Nov. 12	A'riana Gray	Weekly Honor Roll

2018 SIGNING CLASS

• Head Coach Brian Neal announced the addition of Hannah Noveroske and Courtney Prenger to the 2019-20 roster on Nov. 15.

• Noveroske is a 6-foot-4 center from Michigan City, Ind. She averaged 20.6 points, 15.7 rebounds and 6.9 blocks per game as a junior. She recently earned all-state honors in volleyball after helping her team to a sectional title.

• Prenger helped her team win the 2018 OHSAA Division IV State Title, averaging 10.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-1 forward from Minster, Ohio, is a three-time all-conference first-team selection. She is also a standout track and field athlete, participating in the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays at the 2016 and 2017 OHSAA State Championships.

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• Xavier returns point guard Na'Teshia Owens who played and started in 27 games last season. She averaged 7.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while adding 59 assists and 24 steals. The junior also hit 40 percent (30-for-75) of her three pointers to rank eighth in the BIG EAST.

• The Musketeers also return Aaliyah Dunham who was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. The guard led the team in assists (74) and three pointers made (32). She finished the year ranked fourth in Xavier single-season history in assists by a freshman.

• Aaliyah Dunham also connected on 39 percent of her three pointers (32-for-82), the ninth best percentage in the conference.

• Xavier finished the year ranked second all-time in program history in made three pointers with 214. The 700 attempted three pointers rank first in school history.

• Xavier returns its top rebounder from last season in A'riana Gray. The sophomore forward pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game last year, leading all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. She also led the Musketeers in steals (30).

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Xavier will play 18 games at Cintas Center this season, including nine BIG EAST games.

• The Musketeers open and close BIG EAST play against Georgetown. Xavier travels to Washington, D.C., on Dec. 29 to open conference play and host the Hoyas on March 3 at Cintas Center.

• The Musketeers have won 43 non-conference games over the last five seasons with a 36-5 mark at Cintas Center.

• The Musketeers took on three opponents for the first time in school history in Fairfield, North Alabama and Alabama State.

• Xavier played nine home non-conference games, the second most in program history. The Musketeers played 10 non-conference games at Cintas Center during the 2015-16 campaign.

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN

• Xavier's non-conference opponents combined to post a 142-192 (.425) record last season. Three teams posted winning records in Minnesota, North Alabama and Cincinnati.

• Minnesota and Cincinnati both participated in postseason tournaments last season. The Golden Gophers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being defeated by Oregon. Cincinnati participated in the WNIT and was defeated in the opening round at Michigan State.

• Five of Xavier's non-conference opponents will be under the direction of a new head coach: Chicago State, Minnesota, Bowling Green, Delaware State and Cincinnati. Most notably, Minnesota is coached by former Gopher All-American, Lindsay Whalen.

• The Musketeers will take on an opponent from 11 difference conferences this season.

NATIONAL TV BROADCASTS

• Xavier will play three games on national television with each game being aired on FS2. The Musketeers will play all three of those games at Cintas Center (Jan. 27 vs DePaul; Feb. 15 vs Providence; March 1 vs Villanova).

BIG EAST DIGITAL NETWORK

• Xavier's remaining 15 conference games will be aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

• BEDN, launched in September 2014, is its own dedicated channel within the FOX Sports app, the mobile app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. Streaming on the FOX Sports app is now available on several connected devices, including Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1.	DePaul (5)	77
	Marquette (5)	77
3.	Villanova	57
4.	Creighton	53
5.	Georgetown	52
6.	St. John's	48
7.	Butler	34
8.	Seton Hall	23
9.	Providence	17
10.	Xavier	12

First-place votes in parentheses

SEASON TICKET INFORMATION

• Season tickets are on sale now through the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office. For more information on ticket options, call the ticket office at 513-745-3411 ext. 7 or CLICK HERE for additional information.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Feb. 15 against Providence. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.