Townsend Scores Career-High 16 Points, Xavier Falls in BIG EAST Opener

Friday, December 3

Milwaukee, Wis.

8 p.m. ET

Xavier University

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Marquette

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Xavier

Marquette

Townsend Scores Career-High 16 Points, Xavier Falls in BIG EAST Opener

12.03.21 | Women's Basketball

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The Golden Eagles handed the Musketeers a 76-48 loss on Friday night

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

MILWAUKEE - Ayanna Townsend scored a career-high 16 points on Friday night in Xavier's BIG EAST opening loss at Marquette. The Golden Eagles topped the Musketeers, 76-48, at the Al McGuire Center.

Xavier dropped to 3-4 (0-1 BIG EAST), while the Golden Eagles improved to 5-2 (1-0 BIG EAST).

FIRST HALF

• Marquette jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, forcing a Xavier timeout at the 5:44 mark. The Golden Eagles kept up the strong shooting, finishing the frame with a .611 field-goal percentage (11-for-18) and taking a 25-13 advantage over the Musketeers.

• A Nia Clark basket on Xavier's opening possession of the second quarter got the Musketeers within 10 points (25-15). Marquette responded with 10 unanswered points to take its first 20-point lead of the game, 35-15, at the 6:05 mark. The Golden Eagles never relinquished their lead, taking a 44-24 advantage into the locker room.

• Ayanna Townsend led Xavier with six points and four rebounds at halftime.

SECOND HALF

• Marquette opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run on 4-for-5 shooting, forcing a Xavier timeout. The Golden Eagles outscored Xavier, 18-10, in the frame to take a 62-34 lead.

• Xavier opened the fourth quarter on an 8-4 run capped by a Mikayla Hayes basket, making the score 66-42 and forcing a Marquette timeout at the 7:25 mark. Marquette ended the game by outscoring the Musketeers, 10-6, to pull away for the 76-48 victory.

• Xavier posted .538 (7-for-13) field-goal percentage in the final quarter, its highest percentage of the game. Defensively, the Musketeers limited the Golden Eagles to only a .353 clip in the final frame.

NOTABLES

• Ayanna Townsend scored a career-high 16 points on 8-for-14 shooting. She added five rebounds and three blocks. She has now scored in double figures three times this season, increasing her career total to 12 games in double figures.

• Shaila Beeler added seven points, while Kae Satterfield, Aanaya Harris and Mikayla Hayes each chipped in five points. Nia Clark posted four points and four assists. Megan Harkey recorded four points, four rebounds and two blocks in seven minutes of action off the bench.

• Marquette won the battle on the glass, 45-25, and scored 10 more second-chance points (19-9). The Golden Eagles also scored five more points off of turnovers.

• Xavier recorded a season-high nine blocks. The nine blocks are the most in a game for the Musketeers since Dec. 14, 2020 vs Indiana State (11 blocks).

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues BIG EAST action on Sunday, Dec. 5 at DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. ET from Wintrust Arena.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW