Clark Leads Musketeers to 70-49 Win Over Valparaiso

Sunday, November 21

Cincinnati, Ohio

4 p.m.

Xavier University

Valparaiso

Clark Leads Musketeers to 70-49 Win Over Valparaiso

11.21.21 | Women's Basketball

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The junior guard scored a career-high 26 points on Sunday afternoon

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Nia Clark scored a career-high 26 points on Sunday afternoon, leading the Musketeers to a 70-49 win over Valparaiso.

Xavier improved to 1-3 on the year, while the Beacons dropped to 0-4.

FIRST HALF

• The opening minutes of the game featured three lead changes and three ties. All knotted up at 13-13 with 4:15 on the clock, the Musketeers closed the opening quarter on a 10-5 run to take a 23-18 advantage. Xavier knocked down 69.2 percent (9-for-13) of its shot attempts in the first quarter with Nia Clark pacing the squad with 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting.

• Xavier scored five unanswered points to open the second quarter, taking its first double-figure lead of the game, 28-18. The Musketeers led by as many as 13 points (33-20) at the 5:37 mark on a pair of Shaila Beeler free throws. Xavier maintained its double-figure at the break, leading by 11 points (35-24).

• Nia Clark paced the Xavier offense with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting. She added four assists. Kae Satterfield chipped in eight points and five rebounds.

• The Musketeers hit 50 percent (12-for-24) of their shot attempts in the first half and pulled down seven more rebounds (19-12). Xavier also scored eight more points in the paint (16-8).

SECOND HALF

• Valparaiso started the second half on a 10-3 run, closing within four points (38-34) at the 3:54 mark. Xavier responded by closing the third quarter on a 13-2 run, taking a 51-36 advantage into the final stanza.

• Xavier never relinquished its lead, outscoring the Beacons by six points (19-13) in the final frame. The Musketeers led by as many as 23 points (70-47) on a pair of Aanaya Harris free throws with 17 seconds on the clock before an Ava Interrante jumper as time expired made the final ledger, 70-49.

NOTABLES

• Nia Clark scored a career-high 26 points on 10-for-18 shooting. She also dished out a career-high five assists while adding one block and one steal. The Indianapolis, Ind., native has now scored in double figures 16 times.

• Shaila Beeler chipped in 10 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists. Kae Satterfield finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

• Mikayla Hayes scored 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. She scored eight, second-half points.

• Mackayla Scarlett grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in 29 minutes of action off the bench. She added three points and three assists.

• Xavier finished the game with a .455 field-goal percentage (25-for-55) and a .842 free-throw percentage (16-for-19).

• Xavier won the battle on the glass, 44-24, and scored nine, second-chance points off of 10 offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Xavier plays the first of four straight road games at Wright State on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. from the Nutter Center.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW