RedHawks Top Musketeers, 77-73, in Home Opener

Wednesday, November 17

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

0-3,0-0Big East

Miami (Ohio)

2-1,0-0MAC

Miami (OH)

Xavier

RedHawks Top Musketeers, 77-73, in Home Opener

11.17.21 | Women's Basketball

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Freshman Aanaya Harris had 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks on Wednesday night

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped its home opener vs Miami (Ohio), 77-73, at Cintas Center on Wednesday night.

Xavier moved to 0-3 on the year, while the RedHawks improved to 2-1.

FIRST HALF

• The opening minutes of the game were back-and-forth as the teams exchanged leads three times. Miami (Ohio) led, 10-9, at the media timeout (3:51) on an Ivy Wolf three pointer. Xavier scored three straight points to regain the lead, 12-10, with 1:48 on the clock before the RedHawks closed the frame by outscoring the Musketeers, 4-2, to make the score 14-14.

• Ayanna Townsend paced the Musketeers with five points in the opening quarter. Xavier forced eight RedHawk turnovers, converting the miscues into seven points. The first quarter had five lead changes and two ties.

• The Musketeers outscored Miami (Ohio), 12-8, on 6-for-8 shooting to open the second frame - taking a 26-22 advantage with 5:47 on the clock. Xavier led by as many as six points (30-24) at the 4:23 mark before the RedHawks closed the half on a 13-2 run, taking a 37-32 advantage into the locker room.

• Aanaya Harris led Xavier with eight points at intermission, while Ayanna Townsend chipped in seven. Miami (Ohio) won the battle on the glass, 19-14, with Harris pacing the Musketeers with three rebounds.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier battled back to tie the game twice early in the third quarter before taking a two-point lead (45-43) on a pair of Aanaya Harris free throws with 6:04 on the clock. The RedHawks responded by going a 12-6 run, taking their largest lead of the game, 57-49. The Musketeers scored the final three points of the third quarter to close within five (57-52).

• Xavier went on a 10-0 run capped by a Nia Clark layup to open the final quarter, taking a 62-57 advantage with 7:33 left in regulation. The Musketeers led by as many as five points (71-66) with just over two minutes left on the clock.

• Miami (Ohio) closed the game on an 11-2 run, pulling away for the 77-73 victory. The RedHawks forced three Xavier turnovers down the stretch and limited the Musketeers to only one field goal.

NOTABLES

• Nia Clark led four Musketeers in double figures with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting. She added three steals and three assists. She now has 15 career games with 10 or more points.

• Ayanna Townsend scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting. She also pulled down four rebounds. The forward now has 10 career double-figure scoring games.

• Kae Satterfield had 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. She added three steals and four rebounds.

• Freshman Aanaya Harris had 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting. She added a team-high six rebounds, six assists and four blocks.

Shaila Beeler finished with 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting. She added three assists and two steals.

• Xavier had 12 steals, the team's second game of the season with 10 or more steals.

• Xavier hit 50 percent (27-for-54) of its shot attempts, the team's best field-goal percentage since Jan. 10, 2020 (.509 vs Georgetown).

• The Musketeers forced Miami (Ohio) into 29 turnovers, converting the miscues into 32 points. Xavier also held a 20-point advantage (46-26) in points in the paint. The Musketeers scored eight more fastbreak points (31-23).

• Miami (Ohio) held a 39-24 advantage on the glass and scored five more second-chance points (13-8).

• Xavier finished the game going 18-for-23 from the foul line. The Musketeers hit 80 percent (16-for-20) of their free throws in the second half.

• The game featured 15 lead changes and nine ties. Neither team led by more than eight points.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 21 vs Valparaiso. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET from Cintas Center.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW