Musketeers Close BIG EAST Regular-Season Action Against Georgetown

Sunday, March 3

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

Georgetown

Musketeers Close BIG EAST Regular-Season Action Against Georgetown

03.02.19 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live - BEDN Live Stats XU Notes (PDF)

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

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball closes BIG EAST regular-season action on Sunday, March 3 against Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.

THE MATCHUP VS GEORGETOWN

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (11-17, 2-15) vs GEORGETOWN HOYAS (14-14, 8-9)
Game Info - Sunday, March 3 - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video - BEDN - bit.ly/2tIspjh
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu

ABOUT GEORGETOWN

2018-19 Record: 14-14 (8-9 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Record: 16-16 (9-9 BIG EAST)
2017-18 Postseason: WNIT - Second Round
Series History: Xavier trails, 8-6
Last Meeting: Georgetown 68, Xavier 61 - (12/29/18 - Washington, D.C. - McDonough Arena)

NOTABLES
• Georgetown ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense (59.8) and field-goal percentage defense (.371). The Hoyas also lead the conference in blocks (4.6).
• Georgetown has two of the top five scorers in the BIG EAST in Dorothy Adomako and Dionna White. Both players are averaging 15.8 points per game to rank tied for fourth in scoring. Adomako also ranks fifth in rebounding (7.9), while White ranks eighth (7.4).
• Dorothy Adomako ranks second in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.7), while Anita Keleva ranks fourth. Dionna White also ranks second in the conference in steals (2.7).
• The Hoyas have won three straight games, most recently picking up a 72-42 road win at Butler on Friday night. Georgetown is 4-7 in road games this season with a 2-6 mark in conference road games.

GEORGETOWN SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Georgetown, 8-6. The Musketeers have dropped six straight games in the series.

• The Musketeers are looking for their first win over the Hoyas since a 59-54 victory on Dec. 29, 2015 at Cintas Center. Xavier is 4-2 all-time at home against the Hoyas.

LAST TIME OUT VS GEORGETOWN

• Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 68-61, in Washington, D.C. The matchup was the first BIG EAST game of the season for both teams.

• Sophomore Deja Ross scored a team-high 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting with three 3-pointers. She added three rebounds and one block in 26 minutes of action.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray posted a double-double, scoring 12 points to go along with a team-high 11 rebounds. She added one block and one steal.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a 68-63 loss to Villanova on Friday night at Cintas Center, the team's seventh straight loss.

• A'riana Gray finished the game with 20 points on 9-for-17 shooting, her sixth career game with 20 or more points. The sophomore forward also pulled down a game-high 21 rebounds, her third game of the season with 20 or more rebounds. She now has a BIG EAST leading 14 double-doubles this season.

• A'riana Gray becomes the first Xavier player since Ta'Shia Phillips to post 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds in a game. Phillips had 23 points and 21 rebounds against East Tennessee State on March 21, 2010.

• Sophomore Princess Stewart added 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting, her fifth game of the year in double figures. She added three assists, two steals and three rebounds.

GRAY'S BREAKOUT SEASON

• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.5), while ranking 12th in scoring (13.7). The forward's 11.5 rebounds per game also ranks 12th nationally.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray leads the BIG EAST in double-doubles with 14, while also ranking 21st nationally. She has 321 rebounds on the year to rank 10th in the NCAA and sixth place at Xavier in single-season rebounds. She is six rebounds away from moving into fifth place with Amber Harris (327 - 2010-11).

• In BIG EAST action, A'riana Gray is averaging 13.6 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. She also has a team-high 28 steals to go along with 17 assists in those games.

• A'riana Gray posted a career-high seven steals against Creighton on Jan. 18. She averages 1.9 steals per game, ranking seventh in the conference.

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES

• Freshman Lauren Wasylson ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.383) and 10th in three pointers made 54 - the most three pointers by a freshman in the conference this season. Her 54 made three pointers are 22 more than Xavier's individual player total for made three pointers from last season (Aaliyah Dunham - 32).

• In 20 games this season, sophomore Princess Stewart is averaging 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. She has added 40 assists and 31 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 eighth in the BIG EAST in assists (3.4) and seventh in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.9). The guard has also added 8.2 points per game this season. She averaged 2.5 assists per game last season as a freshman.

• Sophomore A'riana Gray has averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in three career meetings with the Hoyas. Classmate Deja Ross has added 8.3 points per game and a .500 field-goal percentage (8-for-16) in those games.

TEAM NOTABLES

• Xavier ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in steals (8.0) and sixth in three pointers made (7.9). The 7.9 three pointers made per game rank 49th in the NCAA.

• Xavier has made 222 three pointers this season to rank second in single-season team history at XU, breaking last season's mark of 214. The Musketeers have also set the school record for three pointers attempted (731), eclipsing the school record established last season (700).

• 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 3.2 more points per game this season than a year ago (61.8 ppg vs 58.6 ppg). Xavier already has 22 more total blocks (77-55) than a year ago and is averaging 1.9 more steals per game (8.0 - 6.1).

• Xavier has had a player score 20 or more points in a game nine 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.

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 close regular-season action on Sunday, March 3 against Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.