Gray Scores Career-High 28 Points in Loss to Butler

Saturday, January 4

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 P.M.

Xavier University

1-13,0-3Big East

Butler

9-5,1-2Big East

Butler

Xavier

Gray Scores Career-High 28 Points in Loss to Butler

01.04.20 | Women's Basketball

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

The junior forward posted her 19th career double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Junior A'riana Gray posted her 19th career double-double on Saturday afternoon, scoring a career-high 28 points with 13 rebounds as the Musketeers dropped a 78-70 BIG EAST contest vs Butler. Xavier moved to 1-13 (0-3 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs improved to 9-5 (1-2 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• The opening quarter was back-and-forth as neither team led by more than three points. Trailing 19-17 with 31 seconds left in the first quarter, the Musketeers closed the frame with a three-point play from A'riana Gray - taking a 20-19 advantage. Gray led Xavier with 10 points in the first quarter.

• Butler opened the second quarter on a 12-3 run, taking a 31-23 lead with 4:54 on the clock. Xavier responded with an 8-2 run capped by a Morgan Sharps three pointer to get within two points (33-31). Butler's Katherine Strong hit a layup in the closing minutes to give the Bulldogs a 35-31 lead at intermission.

• A'riana Gray led Xavier with 13 points and six rebounds in the first half, while Morgan Sharps added nine. Aaliyah Dunham had six points and five assists.

SECOND HALF

• Butler outscored Xavier, 14-8, in the first six minutes of the third quarter - taking its first double-figure lead of the game, 49-39. The Musketeers responded with an 11-3 run capped by a Morgan Sharps three pointer at the :30 mark to get Xavier within two (52-50). Butler led 53-30 after three quarters of action.

• The Bulldogs scored nine unanswered points to open the final quarter, taking their largest lead of the game, 62-50. Xavier closed within five points (70-65) with 2:44 left in regulation, but the Bulldogs kept up their hot shooting to pull away for the win. Butler was 9-for-11 from the floor in the fourth quarter and 7-for-11 from the foul line.

• A'riana Gray had 15 points and seven rebounds in the second half.

NOTABLES

• Junior A'riana Gray posted her 19th career double-double, scoring a career-high 28 points to go along with 13 rebounds. She was 9-for-10 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the foul line. She added a game-high five steals.

• Freshman Morgan Sharps added 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting from behind the arc. She has now scored in double figures four times this season.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham added eight points, eight assists and two rebounds.

• Sophomore Lauren Wasylson chipped in seven points and three assists, while senior Ashley Gomez and sophomore Sarah Leyendecker both added six points. Leyendecker also pulled down four rebounds.

• Xavier made 10 three pointers in the game, its third game of the season with 10 or more three pointers.

• Butler won the battle on the glass, 34-28, and scored 16 more points off of turnovers (28-12). Both teams scored 13 second-chance points. The game featured five ties and five lead changes.

UP NEXT

• Xavier hits the road for back-to-back BIG EAST games on Jan. 10-12. The Musketeers take on Georgetown on Friday before facing Villanova on Sunday.

VIDEOS