Musketeers Drop Home Finale to Creighton on Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, February 23

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 P.M.

Xavier University

Creighton

Musketeers Drop Home Finale to Creighton on Sunday Afternoon

02.23.20 | Women's Basketball

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

Junior Aaliyah Dunham posted 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped its home finale, 76-62, to Creighton on Sunday afternoon. The Musketeers moved to 3-24 (2-14 BIG EAST), while the Bluejays improved to 17-10 (9-7 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Creighton started the game on a 15-8 run to take an early lead at the 3:19 mark. The Bluejays outscored the Musketeers, 24-15, in the opening quarter behind a .643 field-goal percentage (9-for-14).

• Xavier opened the second quarter by using a 5-3 run - with all five points coming from Carrie Gross - to close within seven points (27-20) with 7:54 on the clock. The Musketeers closed within eight points (32-24) on an Ayanna Townsend layup with 1:36 left in the half. Creighton hit a basket in the closing minute to take a 34-24 advantage into the locker room.

• Carrie Gross led the Musketeers in scoring with seven points at the break. The guard was 3-for-4 from the floor. Ayanna Townsend and Courtney Prenger both had three rebounds to lead the team on the glass.

SECOND HALF

• Creighton pushed its lead to 14 points (43-29) midway through the third quarter before A'riana Gray went on a 6-0 run, getting Xavier within eight points (43-35) at the 5:29 mark. The Bluejays end the frame on a 16-7 run on 5-for-7 shooting to take a 59-42 lead.

• Xavier outscored Creighton, 20-17, in the final quarter but couldn't pull off the comeback. The Musketeers were 8-for-15 from the floor in the final quarter with 11 points coming from A'riana Gray.

NOTABLES

• Junior A'riana Gray led the Musketeers with 21 points on 8-for-20 shooting. She added six rebounds. The forward now has 15 career games with 20 or more points.

• Junior Aaliyah Dunham finished with 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting. She added three rebounds and two assists.

• Redshirt-freshman Ayanna Townsend nearly missed her second career double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. She added a team-high five blocks as the Musketeers matched their season-high in blocks with eight.

• Sophomore Carrie Gross finished with seven points and a career-high six assists. Junior Deja Ross added five points.

• Creighton won the battle on the glass, 39-30, and scored four more points off of turnovers (15-11).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Friday, Feb. 28 at Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Walsh Gymnasium.

HIGHLIGHTS