Musketeers Play Host to Miami (Ohio) in Home Opener

11.16.21 | Women's Basketball

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Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball opens its home schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 17 vs Miami (Ohio). Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET from Cintas Center.

THE MATCHUP VS MIAMI (OHIO)

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-2) vs MIAMI UNIVERSITY REDHAWKS (1-1)
Game Info - Wednesday, Nov. 17 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (FloSports) - bit.ly/3Hs42em
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu

ABOUT MIAMI (OHIO)

2021-22 Record: 1-1
2020-21 Record: 4-20 (3-17 MAC)
Series History: Xavier trails, 7-10
Last Meeting: Miami (Ohio) 77, Xavier 65 (March 17, 2004 - Cincinnati, Ohio)

NOTABLES
• Miami (Ohio) was picked to finish 11th in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 4-20 (3-17 MAC) record last season. Junior guard Peyton Scott was named to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
• Miami (Ohio) is 1-1 on the year with a road win at Valparaiso (W, 85-60) on Nov. 10 and a road loss at Illinois (L, 72-65) on Nov. 14. Xavier also plays Valparaiso this season, taking on the Beacons on Sunday, Nov. 21.
• The RedHawks are averaging 75 points per game this season, paced by Peyton Scott (20.0 ppg) and Ivy Wolf (17.0 ppg). Scott is also averaging 7.0 rebounds per game and has dished out a team-high 10 assists.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Miami (Ohio), 7-10. The Musketeers are 3-7 in home games vs the RedHawks.

• The RedHawks won the last meeting between the two schools, 77-65, on March 17, 2004 in the opening round of the WNIT.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a 106-71 road loss at Utah on Saturday, Nov. 13. The 106 points allowed are the most since Seton Hall defeated the Musketeers, 108-65, on Feb. 24, 2021.

• Shelby Calhoun led three Musketeers in double figures with 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting. She added four rebounds and one block.

• Aanaya Harris added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting in 22 minutes of action off the bench. She added two steals and one rebound.

• Shaila Beeler chipped in 11 points, while Nia Clark and Mackayla Scarlett both added nine points.

• Mikayla Hayes led the team on the glass with six rebounds. Utah won the battle on the glass, 46-34.

• The game featured 44 fouls. Xavier went 25-for-32 from the foul line and Utah went 16-for-23. The 32 free-throw attempts for Xavier are the most in a game for Xavier since Nov. 25, 2020 at Detroit (21-for-33). The 25 made free throws are the most in a game for Xavier since Feb. 6, 2015 vs Marquette (28-for-34).

NOTABLES

• The last time Xavier played a team from the Mid-American Conference was on Nov. 20, 2019 at Ball State. The Cardinals defeated the Musketeers, 70-49. Xavier's last home contest vs a MAC team was on Nov. 29, 2018 vs Bowling Green (W, 65-49).

• Wednesday's matchup features high school teammates Courtney Prenger (Xavier) and Ivy Wolf (Miami). The two players led Minster HS to back-to-back OHSAA State Titles in 2018 and 2019.

• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST with seven newcomers, only trailing Providence (eight newcomers).

• Xavier is replacing over half of its points, rebounds and assists from players who departed the program in the offseason. The Musketeers lost 57.9 percent of their total points (549), 54.8 percent of their total rebounds (297) and 66.7 percent of their total assists (140).

• All told, the Musketeers five players who graduated in the offseason (A'riana Gray, Aaliyah Dunham, Sarah Leyendecker, Lauren Wasylson, Deja Ross) combined for the following career statistics: 406 games played, 2,933 points, 1,764 rebounds and 636 assists.

• Xavier ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in steals per game (8.5) this season, paced by Shelby Calhoun who has five this season (tied for fourth in the BIG EAST).

• Nia Clark leads the Musketeers in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. The guard has hit 43.5 percent (10-for-23) of her shot attempts this season.

• Freshman Aanaya Harris ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game. She has hit 55.6 percent (10-for-18) of her shot attempts this season. She has averaged 22.5 minutes per game off the bench.

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• Xavier returns two of its top three scorers from last season in Nia Clark and Kae Satterfield. The Musketeers finished the season with a 5-10 (2-8 BIG EAST) record.

• Nia Clark averaged 11.5 points per game last season, ranking second on the team. She also led the team in three pointers made (16) and total steals (26). The Indianapolis, Ind., native averaged 2.0 steals per game, ranking sixth in the BIG EAST and 126th in the NCAA.

• Kae Satterfield averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She ranked second on the team in rebounding, while ranking 14th in the BIG EAST. The New York, N.Y., native also posted a team-best .468 field-goal percentage (58-for-124).

• The Musketeers welcome seven newcomers to the team this season, comprised of four transfers and three true freshmen. The four transfers are Shelby Calhoun (Virginia Tech), Mikayla Hayes (Florida/Clemson), Taylor Smith (Ole Miss) and Shaila Beeler (Indiana/Vincennes). The true freshman are Kaysia Woods (Lincoln, Neb.), Kaybriana Hallman (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Aanaya Harris (Omaha, Neb.).

AYANNA TOWNSEND CAREER WATCH

• Ayanna Townsend has 59 career blocks, ranking tied for ninth all-time at Xavier with Jennifer Phillips (1998-02). She is one block away from moving into eighth place with Maddison Blackwell (2013-17).

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Xavier will play nine non-conference games (five on the road, four at home). The Musketeers will play teams from eight different conferences (AAC, Pac-12, MAC, MVC, Horizon, ASUN, MAAC, OVC). The contest with Niagara on Dec. 8 will be the first meeting between the two schools.

• Xavier plays six teams that advanced to postseason action last season: Wright State (NCAA), Marquette (NCAA), UConn (NCAA), Villanova (WNIT), DePaul (WNIT), Creighton (WNIT).

• The Musketeers will play four games on national television: Jan. 15 at UConn (SNY), Jan. 23 vs DePaul (CBS Sports Network), Feb. 13 at Providence (FS1) and Feb. 18 vs UConn (SNY). Xavier's remaining 16 conference games will be aired BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) presented by SoFi. FloSports will serve as the digital home for conference women's basketball for the second straight season.

• The conference season begins on Dec. 3 at Marquette and concludes on Feb. 27 at Cintas Center vs Villanova. The Musketeers will play four BIG EAST games before the start of 2022.

• The BIG EAST Tournament will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena for the second straight year. The tournament will be held on March 5-7.

• The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout returns after the game was canceled last season due to COVID-19 issues. Xavier has won four of the last six meetings between the two teams and 11 of the last 16 meetings. The game will be played at Fifth Third Arena on Sunday, Dec. 12.

• The Musketeers have won 47 non-conference games over the last six seasons with a 39-9 mark at Cintas Center.

BIG EAST COACHES' POLL

1.	UConn (10)	100
2.	DePaul (1)	90
3.	Seton Hall	80
4.	Marquette	74
5.	Villanova	62
6.	Creighton	54
7.	St. John's	51
8.	Providence	32
9.	Georgetown	27
10.	Xavier	18
11.	Butler	17

XU BASKETBALL HISTORY

• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.

• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 21 vs Valparaiso at 4 p.m. ET.

COACH MOORE INTERVIEW