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Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, January 15
Hartford, Conn.
12 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Connecticut
Musketeers Travel to No. 10 UConn on Saturday
01.13.22 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball travels to No. 10 UConn on Saturday, Jan. 15.Β Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from the XL Center inΒ Hartford, Conn.
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XAVIER MUSKETEERS (6-8,Β 1-4) at UCONN HUSKIES (8-3, 3-0)
Game Info - Saturday, Jan. 15Β -Β 12Β p.m. ET - XL Center (15,558)
Live Video (SNY)Β -Β bit.ly/3nnL941
Live Stats -Β bit.ly/3zXa8jJ
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2021-22Β Record:Β 8-3 (3-0 BIG EAST)
2020-21Β Record:Β 28-2 (18-0 BIG EAST)
2021 Postseason: NCAA Final Four
Series History: Xavier trails, 3-0
Last Meeting:Β UConn 83, Xavier 32 (Feb. 20, 2021 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
β’ UConnΒ is coming off a 92-47 win at Butler on Jan. 12. Olivia Nelson-OdodaΒ andΒ Christyn WilliamsΒ scored 19 points each, whileΒ Caroline DucharmeΒ added 18. The Huskies forced 27 turnovers, converting the miscues into 43 points.
β’ The Huskies lead the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.464), while ranking second in steals (8.2) and blocks (4.4). UConn also ranks third in both scoring offense (71.0) and scoring defense (59.6).
β’ Christyn Williams ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in scoring (14.2).Β Olivia Nelson-Ododa ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.595) and blocks (1.6), while ranking sixth in rebounding (7.4).
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β’ UConnΒ leads the all-time series with the Musketeers, 3-0. The Huskies won both meetings between the two schools last season. Nia Clark averaged a team-high 9.0 points per game in the series last year.
β’ The Huskies also won the firstΒ meeting in program history, 86-84, on March 14, 1999 inside Gampel Pavilion. The meeting was in the NCAA Midwest Second Round with the Musketeers as the No. 8 seed, and the Huskies as the No. 1 seed.
SERIES HISTORY VS UCONN
Feb. 20, 2021 - UConn 83, Xavier 32Β (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 19, 2020 - UConn 106, Xavier 59 (Storrs, Conn.)
March 14, 1999 - UConnΒ 86, Xavier 84 (Storrs, Conn.)
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β’ The Musketeers are 11-48Β all-time against teams ranked in the top-25. The last time Xavier played a top-25 team was on Feb. 20, 2021 (L, 83-32Β vs No. 1 UConn).
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β’ The Musketeers last win over a top-25 team was on Nov. 26, 2009 over No. 18 Kansas, 76-71, at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas.
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WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 22 -Β Nia ClarkΒ - BIG EAST Player of the Week
Dec. 20 -Β Ayanna TownsendΒ - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Jan. 3 -Β Kae SatterfieldΒ - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
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β’ Xavier is coming off a 54-49 loss to Providence on Jan. 11 at Cintas Center. Mackayla ScarlettΒ scored a game and career-high 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting. She scored seven of her points in the final quarter. The guard added two rebounds and two steals.
β’Β Shaila BeelerΒ added 11 points, four assists and one steal. She was also 7-for-8 from the foul line. She has now scored in double figures six times this season.
β’ In her first game back since a hand injury (suffered on Nov. 13),Β Shelby CalhounΒ posted nine points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of action off the bench.
β’Β Ayanna TownsendΒ pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points. She now has five career games with 10 or more rebounds.
β’ Xavier had 10 steals vs the Friars, the team's fifth game of the season with double-figure steals.
β’ The Musketeers were held to a season-low .242 field-goal percentage (15-for-62). Xavier hit 75 percent (15-for-20) of its free-throw attempts.
β’ Providence won the battle on the glass, 44-39, and had seven more blocks (11-4) than the Musketeers. Xavier held a 14-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
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β’ Sophomore Mackayla Scarlett has scored in double figures in three straight games, averaging 14.7 points per game. She is 10-for-21 from behind the arc in those games. On the year, she has made 18 three pointers - half of the team's total (36-for-138).
β’Β The Bronx, N.Y., native has averaged 7.8 points per game this season after posting 0.6 points per game as a freshman.
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β’ Xavier has had eight different players lead the team in scoring through 14 games. Nia Clark has led the team in scoring in five games, followed by Shaila Beller (twice), Aanaya Harris (twice), Kae Satterfield (twice),Β Mackayla Scarlett (twice), Ayanna Townsend (twice), Shelby Calhoun (once) and Mikayla Hayes (once).
β’ All told, six players are averaging over eight points per game. Five different players haveΒ dished out 20 or more assists this season.
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β’ Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST with seven newcomers, only trailing Providence (eight newcomers).Β
β’ 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 theirΒ total points (549), 54.8 percent of their total rebounds (297) and 66.7 percent of their total assists (140).
β’ 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.
β’Β Xavier ranks second the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.785), while ranking 10th in the NCAA. The Musketeers are 38-for-47 from the foul line in their last three games (.809).
β’Β Xavier ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.2), while ranking 65th in the NCAA. Mikayla Hayes ranks 10th in the conference with 13Β blocks. The Musketeers rank fourth in the BIG EAST in steals (7.9), with Nia Clark ranking ninth individually - averaging 1.5 steals per game. Six Musketeers have 10 or more steals on the year, paced by Shaila Beeler (17).
β’ Kae SatterfieldΒ leads the team in rebounding (7.1), while ranking thirdΒ in scoring (10.1). She has hit 91.9 percent (34-for-37) of her free throws, ranking first in the BIG EAST. She also ranks eighth in the conference in rebounding.
β’ Nia Clark ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring (14.1), sixth in the free-throw percentage (.793), ninth in steals (1.5) and 13th in assists (3.4).
β’ Freshman Aanaya Harris ranks fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per game. She has hit 48.4 percent (46-for-95) of her shot attempts this season, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST. She ranks fourth on the team in total blocks (7) and fourth in total assists (32).
β’ Xavier picked up its first BIG EAST win of the season on Dec. 29, defeating Butler, 77-55,Β at Cintas Center. The 22-point win was the third largest margin of victory for the Musketeers vs a BIG EAST opponent since joining the conference in 2013-14.
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β’Β Xavier returns two of its top three scorers from last season inΒ Nia ClarkΒ andΒ Kae Satterfield. The Musketeers finished the season with a 5-10 (2-8 BIG EAST) record.
β’Β Nia ClarkΒ 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.
β’Β Kae SatterfieldΒ 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., nativeΒ also posted a team-best .468 field-goal percentage (58-for-124).
β’Β The Musketeers welcome seven newcomers to the team this season, comprised of four transfers and three true freshmen. The four transfers areΒ Shelby CalhounΒ (Virginia Tech),Β Mikayla HayesΒ (Florida/Clemson),Β Taylor SmithΒ (Ole Miss) andΒ Shaila BeelerΒ (Indiana/Vincennes). The true freshman areΒ Kaysia WoodsΒ (Lincoln, Neb.),Β Kaybriana HallmanΒ (Grand Rapids, Mich.) andΒ Aanaya HarrisΒ (Omaha, Neb.).Β
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β’ Ayanna TownsendΒ has 70 career blocks, ranking eighth all-time at Xavier. She is eightΒ blocks away from moving into seventhΒ place with Carol MadsenΒ (1991-94).
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β’ 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.
β’ Xavier plays six teams that advanced to postseason action last season: Wright State (NCAA), Marquette (NCAA), UConnΒ (NCAA), Villanova (WNIT), DePaul (WNIT), Creighton (WNIT).
β’ 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. FloSportsΒ will serve as the digital home for conference women's basketball for the second straight season.
β’ 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.
β’ The BIG EAST Tournament will be held atΒ Mohegan SunΒ Arena for the second straight year. The tournament will be heldΒ on March 5-7.
β’ 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.
β’ The Musketeers have won 52 non-conference games over the last sixΒ seasons with a 42-10 mark at Cintas Center.
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β’ Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
β’ The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
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β’ Xavier returns to Cincinnati for a pair of home games on Jan. 21 (Marquette) and Jan. 23 (DePaul).
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Β THE MATCHUP AT UCONN |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (6-8,Β 1-4) at UCONN HUSKIES (8-3, 3-0)
Game Info - Saturday, Jan. 15Β -Β 12Β p.m. ET - XL Center (15,558)
Live Video (SNY)Β -Β bit.ly/3nnL941
Live Stats -Β bit.ly/3zXa8jJ
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Β ABOUT UCONN |
2021-22Β Record:Β 8-3 (3-0 BIG EAST)2020-21Β Record:Β 28-2 (18-0 BIG EAST)
2021 Postseason: NCAA Final Four
Series History: Xavier trails, 3-0
Last Meeting:Β UConn 83, Xavier 32 (Feb. 20, 2021 - Cintas Center)
NOTABLES
β’ UConnΒ is coming off a 92-47 win at Butler on Jan. 12. Olivia Nelson-OdodaΒ andΒ Christyn WilliamsΒ scored 19 points each, whileΒ Caroline DucharmeΒ added 18. The Huskies forced 27 turnovers, converting the miscues into 43 points.
β’ The Huskies lead the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.464), while ranking second in steals (8.2) and blocks (4.4). UConn also ranks third in both scoring offense (71.0) and scoring defense (59.6).
β’ Christyn Williams ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in scoring (14.2).Β Olivia Nelson-Ododa ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.595) and blocks (1.6), while ranking sixth in rebounding (7.4).
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Β SERIES HISTORY |
β’ UConnΒ leads the all-time series with the Musketeers, 3-0. The Huskies won both meetings between the two schools last season. Nia Clark averaged a team-high 9.0 points per game in the series last year.
β’ The Huskies also won the firstΒ meeting in program history, 86-84, on March 14, 1999 inside Gampel Pavilion. The meeting was in the NCAA Midwest Second Round with the Musketeers as the No. 8 seed, and the Huskies as the No. 1 seed.
SERIES HISTORY VS UCONN
Feb. 20, 2021 - UConn 83, Xavier 32Β (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 19, 2020 - UConn 106, Xavier 59 (Storrs, Conn.)
March 14, 1999 - UConnΒ 86, Xavier 84 (Storrs, Conn.)
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Β XU VS THE TOP-25 |
β’ The Musketeers are 11-48Β all-time against teams ranked in the top-25. The last time Xavier played a top-25 team was on Feb. 20, 2021 (L, 83-32Β vs No. 1 UConn).
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β’ The Musketeers last win over a top-25 team was on Nov. 26, 2009 over No. 18 Kansas, 76-71, at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas.
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Β BIG EAST HONOREES |
WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 22 -Β Nia ClarkΒ - BIG EAST Player of the Week
Dec. 20 -Β Ayanna TownsendΒ - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Jan. 3 -Β Kae SatterfieldΒ - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
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Β Β LAST TIME OUT |
β’ Xavier is coming off a 54-49 loss to Providence on Jan. 11 at Cintas Center. Mackayla ScarlettΒ scored a game and career-high 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting. She scored seven of her points in the final quarter. The guard added two rebounds and two steals.
β’Β Shaila BeelerΒ added 11 points, four assists and one steal. She was also 7-for-8 from the foul line. She has now scored in double figures six times this season.
β’ In her first game back since a hand injury (suffered on Nov. 13),Β Shelby CalhounΒ posted nine points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of action off the bench.
β’Β Ayanna TownsendΒ pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points. She now has five career games with 10 or more rebounds.
β’ Xavier had 10 steals vs the Friars, the team's fifth game of the season with double-figure steals.
β’ The Musketeers were held to a season-low .242 field-goal percentage (15-for-62). Xavier hit 75 percent (15-for-20) of its free-throw attempts.
β’ Providence won the battle on the glass, 44-39, and had seven more blocks (11-4) than the Musketeers. Xavier held a 14-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
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Β SCARLETT LEADING OFFENSE |
β’ Sophomore Mackayla Scarlett has scored in double figures in three straight games, averaging 14.7 points per game. She is 10-for-21 from behind the arc in those games. On the year, she has made 18 three pointers - half of the team's total (36-for-138).
β’Β The Bronx, N.Y., native has averaged 7.8 points per game this season after posting 0.6 points per game as a freshman.
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Β BALANCEDΒ OFFENSE |
β’ Xavier has had eight different players lead the team in scoring through 14 games. Nia Clark has led the team in scoring in five games, followed by Shaila Beller (twice), Aanaya Harris (twice), Kae Satterfield (twice),Β Mackayla Scarlett (twice), Ayanna Townsend (twice), Shelby Calhoun (once) and Mikayla Hayes (once).
β’ All told, six players are averaging over eight points per game. Five different players haveΒ dished out 20 or more assists this season.
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Β NOTABLES |
β’ Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST with seven newcomers, only trailing Providence (eight newcomers).Β
β’ 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 theirΒ total points (549), 54.8 percent of their total rebounds (297) and 66.7 percent of their total assists (140).
β’ 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.
β’Β Xavier ranks second the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.785), while ranking 10th in the NCAA. The Musketeers are 38-for-47 from the foul line in their last three games (.809).
β’Β Xavier ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.2), while ranking 65th in the NCAA. Mikayla Hayes ranks 10th in the conference with 13Β blocks. The Musketeers rank fourth in the BIG EAST in steals (7.9), with Nia Clark ranking ninth individually - averaging 1.5 steals per game. Six Musketeers have 10 or more steals on the year, paced by Shaila Beeler (17).
β’ Kae SatterfieldΒ leads the team in rebounding (7.1), while ranking thirdΒ in scoring (10.1). She has hit 91.9 percent (34-for-37) of her free throws, ranking first in the BIG EAST. She also ranks eighth in the conference in rebounding.
β’ Nia Clark ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring (14.1), sixth in the free-throw percentage (.793), ninth in steals (1.5) and 13th in assists (3.4).
β’ Freshman Aanaya Harris ranks fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per game. She has hit 48.4 percent (46-for-95) of her shot attempts this season, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST. She ranks fourth on the team in total blocks (7) and fourth in total assists (32).
β’ Xavier picked up its first BIG EAST win of the season on Dec. 29, defeating Butler, 77-55,Β at Cintas Center. The 22-point win was the third largest margin of victory for the Musketeers vs a BIG EAST opponent since joining the conference in 2013-14.
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Β ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS |
β’Β Xavier returns two of its top three scorers from last season inΒ Nia ClarkΒ andΒ Kae Satterfield. The Musketeers finished the season with a 5-10 (2-8 BIG EAST) record.
β’Β Nia ClarkΒ 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.
β’Β Kae SatterfieldΒ 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., nativeΒ also posted a team-best .468 field-goal percentage (58-for-124).
β’Β The Musketeers welcome seven newcomers to the team this season, comprised of four transfers and three true freshmen. The four transfers areΒ Shelby CalhounΒ (Virginia Tech),Β Mikayla HayesΒ (Florida/Clemson),Β Taylor SmithΒ (Ole Miss) andΒ Shaila BeelerΒ (Indiana/Vincennes). The true freshman areΒ Kaysia WoodsΒ (Lincoln, Neb.),Β Kaybriana HallmanΒ (Grand Rapids, Mich.) andΒ Aanaya HarrisΒ (Omaha, Neb.).Β
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Β AYANNA TOWNSEND CAREER WATCH |
β’ Ayanna TownsendΒ has 70 career blocks, ranking eighth all-time at Xavier. She is eightΒ blocks away from moving into seventhΒ place with Carol MadsenΒ (1991-94).
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Β SCHEDULE NOTES |
β’ 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.
β’ Xavier plays six teams that advanced to postseason action last season: Wright State (NCAA), Marquette (NCAA), UConnΒ (NCAA), Villanova (WNIT), DePaul (WNIT), Creighton (WNIT).
β’ 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. FloSportsΒ will serve as the digital home for conference women's basketball for the second straight season.
β’ 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.
β’ The BIG EAST Tournament will be held atΒ Mohegan SunΒ Arena for the second straight year. The tournament will be heldΒ on March 5-7.
β’ 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.
β’ The Musketeers have won 52 non-conference games over the last sixΒ seasons with a 42-10 mark at Cintas Center.
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Β BIG EAST COACHES' POLL |
| 1. | UConn (10) | 100 |
| 2. | DePaul (1) | 90 |
| 3. | Seton Hall | 80 |
| 4. | MarquetteΒ | 74 |
| 5. | Villanova | 62 |
| 6. | Creighton | 54 |
| 7. | St. John's | 51 |
| 8. | Providence | 32 |
| 9. | Georgetown | 27 |
| 10. | Xavier | 18 |
| 11. | Butler | 17 |
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Β XU BASKETBALL HISTORY |
β’ Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
β’ The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
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Β UP NEXT |
β’ Xavier returns to Cincinnati for a pair of home games on Jan. 21 (Marquette) and Jan. 23 (DePaul).
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/ Women's BasketballThursday, September 10
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Tuesday, September 08
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