Musketeers Drop BIG EAST Home Opener vs Golden Eagles

Tuesday, December 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

3-3,0-2Big East

Marquette

6-1,3-0Big East

Marquette

Xavier

Musketeers Drop BIG EAST Home Opener vs Golden Eagles

12.22.20 | Women's Basketball

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

Nia Clark led Xavier with 17 points on 8-for-15 shooting

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped its BIG EAST home opener, 69-56, to Marquette on Tuesday afternoon. The Musketeers moved to 3-3 (0-2 BIG EAST), while Marquette improved to 6-1 (3-0 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Xavier had a slow start to the game, going 1-for-12 from the floor as the Golden Eagles led, 6-2, at the first media timeout. Marquette hit back-to-back baskets coming out of the timeout, extending its lead to nine points (11-2).

• The Musketeers ended the first quarter on a 9-4 run on 3-for-3 shooting, closing within four points (15-11). Nia Clark scored five of the Musketeers nine points during the run.

• Marquette opened the second quarter on a 12-6 run to take its first double-figure lead of the game, 27-17, at the 3:22 mark. The Musketeers closed within eight points (29-21) on a pair of A'riana Gray free throws with 2:05 left in the half. The Golden Eagles scored six unanswered points to end the half, taking a 35-21 lead.

• Nia Clark led the Musketeers with nine points on 4-for-9 shooting. She added two rebounds and two steals.

• A'riana Gray added eight points, two assists and two rebounds. Marquette held a 25-14 advantage on the glass and scored six more points off of turnovers (14-8).

SECOND HALF

• Xavier went 3-for-4 from the floor to open the second half, outscoring the Golden Eagles, 8-6. The Musketeers finished the third quarter with a .538 (7-for-13) field-goal percentage. Aaliyah Dunham paced the team with six points on a pair of three pointers.

• Marquette hit 69.2 percent (9-for-13) of its shot attempts in the frame to outpace the Musketeer offense, outscoring the Musketeers, 22-18. The Golden Eagles led Xavier, 57-39, after three quarters of action.

• The Golden Eagles pushed their advantage out to 23 points (67-44) with six minutes left in regulation. The Musketeers responded by ending the game on a 12-2 run via 5-for-6 shooting, making the final score, 69-56. Xavier outscored Marquette, 17-12, in the final frame.

NOTABLES

• Nia Clark led three Musketeers in double figures with 17 points on 8-for-15 shooting. The guard added three rebounds and a team-high three steals. The Musketeers had 11 steals, their fourth game of the year with 10 or more steals.

• Aaliyah Dunham added 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting. The senior guard chipped in two assists and two rebounds.

• A'riana Gray scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds. The senior forward added two assists and a steal.

• Sophomore Courtney Prenger added four points, four rebounds and three assists.

• Marquette won the battle on the glass, 40-25. Xavier held a 26-17 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored two more fastbreak points (10-8).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 31 vs Providence. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.

HIGHLIGHTS