.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Xavier University Athletics
Tuesday, November 22
Cincinnati, Ohio
7 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
McNeese State
Xavier Continues Homestand vs McNeese State on Tuesday Night
11.21.22 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues its homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 22 vs McNeese State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (4-0) vs MCNEESE STATE COWGIRLS (1-4)
Game Info - Tuesday, Nov. 22 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
2022-23 Record: 1-4
2021-22 Record: 13-15 (8-6 Southland)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Xavier 97, McNeese State 60 (Nov. 24, 2007 - Cincinnati, Ohio)
NOTABLES
• McNeese State was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Southland Coaches' Poll after posting a 13-15 (8-6) record last season. The Cowgirls return eight letterwinners and all five starters from last year.
• Three players are averaging nine or more points per game: Paris Mullins (13.0), Kaili Chamberlin (9.6) and Stephanie Guihon (9.3). Divine Tanks leads the team in rebounding (7.4).
• McNeese State is playing its fourth straight road game on Tuesday, most recently coming off a 99-43 loss at No. 8 Ohio State on Nov. 20.
• The Musketeers defeated Old Dominion, 65-49, at Cintas Center on Nov. 19. Xavier moved to 4-0 on the year, the team's first 4-0 start to a season since 2016-17.
• Four Musketeers scored in double figures, paced by Fernanda Ovalle and Aanaya Harris who both had a game-high 14 points. Taylor Smith added 11 points, while Mackayla Scarlett finished with 10 points. Xavier has had four or more players score in double figures three times this season.
• Defensively, the Musketeers limited the Monarchs to a .266 field-goal percentage (17-for-64). It was the lowest field-goal percentage by a Xavier opponent since Nov. 17, 2018 (held Fairfield to a .220 field-goal percentage).
• Freshman guard Fernanda Ovalle finished with a season-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting. She added a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks.
• Aanaya Harris finished with a season-high 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting, her second straight game in double figures and the 18th double-figure game of her career. She added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Taylor Smith scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting to go along with a game-high four steals. She added two rebounds.
• Mackayla Scarlett finished with 10 points, her fourth straight game with 10 or more points and the 15th double-figure game of her career. The guard added two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
• Courtney Prenger added eight points on 3-for-4 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Shelby Calhoun chipped in four points and five assists.
• Xavier hit 48.9 percent of its shot attempts (23-for-47) and went 5-for-12 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 14-for-23 from the foul line.
• Old Dominion held a 19-5 advantage in points off of turnovers, forcing the Musketeers into a season-high 31 miscues. Xavier scored six more points in the paint (30-24) and had two more second-chance points (7-5). Both teams scored 11 fastbreak points.
• Fernanda Ovalle was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Nov. 21. The Musketeers have now had two players earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors this season.
• The freshman guard posted her first career double-double last week, leading the Musketeers to a 65-49 win over Old Dominion on Nov. 22 at Cintas Center.
• The Santiago, Chile, native finished with a season-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting. She added a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 14 - Kaleigh Addie - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 21 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game behind a .450 field-goal percentage (18-for-40). She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (10), while ranking eighth in the three-point field-goal percentage (.476). Taylor Smith also ranks tied for fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (.500).
• Three other Musketeers are averaging 10 or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (10.3), Aanaya Harris (9.5) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.3). Harris and Ovalle have both posted .500 field-goal percentages this season.
• Courtney Prenger ranks 12th in the BIG EAST in rebounding, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. The senior forward also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.517).
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.455), while ranking tied for sixth in three pointers made per game (6.3). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier also leads the BIG EAST in blocks, averaging 5.8 blocks per game. Megan Harkey and Courtney Prenger lead the team with six blocks each, ranking tied for fifth in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers also rank third in the BIG EAST in steals (11.3), paced by Taylor Smith who has a team-high 10 steals.
• Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring offense, averaging 75.2 points per game. The Musketeers ranked eighth in the conference in scoring offense last season (62.3).
• Freshman guard Fernanda Ovalle ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ration (13 assists vs six turnovers).
• Xavier ranks third in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.455) and 22nd in blocks per game (5.8).
• Xavier opened its season with an 87-68 win at Miami (Ohio). The 87 points are the most in a game for Xavier since Dec. 18, 2018 vs Alabama State (W, 87-58).
• The Musketeers made eight 3-pointers (8-for-11) at Miami (Ohio), the most in a game since Feb. 22, 2021 at Butler (9-for-30).
• Aanaya Harris returns for her sophomore season after posting 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She added 52 assists, 23 steals and eight blocks.
• Aanaya Harris added a .463 field-goal percentage, ranking second among BIG EAST freshmen and 14th overall. Her 9.2 points per game also ranked third among conference freshmen.
• Senior Shaila Beeler led the team in assists (117) and steals (34) last season, while adding 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The guard ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.805) and fifth in assists (4.0).
• Xavier also welcomes five newcomers: Taylor Smith (missed 2021-22 season with an injury), Nila Blackford (transfer from Kent State), Fernanda Ovalle, Bella Ward and June Ruiz Azkue.
• The Musketeers will play five of their first six BIG EAST games at Cintas Center. Xavier opens its conference schedule on Black Friday vs Creighton who advanced to the 2022 NCAA Elite Eight.
• Xavier will play four games on national television: at Georgetown on Dec. 4 (FS1), vs Villanova on Jan. 1 (CBS Sports Network), vs UConn on Jan. 5 (SNY) and at UConn on Feb. 27 (CBS Sports Network).
• The BIG EAST Tournament will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for the third straight season. The tournament will be held on March 3-6.
• Xavier will play nine non-conference games (two on the road, seven at home). The Musketeers will play teams from seven different conferences (MAC, Horizon, NEC, Sun Belt, Southland, OVC, AAC). Xavier will play three teams for the first time in program history (Old Dominion, SIUE, Eastern Michigan).
• Xavier will play seven non-conference home games, the most non-conference home games for the Musketeers since 2018-19 (nine games).
• The Musketeers have won 56 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 45-10 mark at Cintas Center.
• 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.
• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Nov. 25 vs No. 16 Creighton in the team's BIG EAST opener. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
 |
THE MATCHUP VS MCNEESE STATE |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (4-0) vs MCNEESE STATE COWGIRLS (1-4)
Game Info - Tuesday, Nov. 22 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
|
|
ABOUT MCNEESE STATE |
2022-23 Record: 1-42021-22 Record: 13-15 (8-6 Southland)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Xavier 97, McNeese State 60 (Nov. 24, 2007 - Cincinnati, Ohio)
NOTABLES
• McNeese State was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Southland Coaches' Poll after posting a 13-15 (8-6) record last season. The Cowgirls return eight letterwinners and all five starters from last year.
• Three players are averaging nine or more points per game: Paris Mullins (13.0), Kaili Chamberlin (9.6) and Stephanie Guihon (9.3). Divine Tanks leads the team in rebounding (7.4).
• McNeese State is playing its fourth straight road game on Tuesday, most recently coming off a 99-43 loss at No. 8 Ohio State on Nov. 20.
|
|
LAST TIME OUT |
• The Musketeers defeated Old Dominion, 65-49, at Cintas Center on Nov. 19. Xavier moved to 4-0 on the year, the team's first 4-0 start to a season since 2016-17.
• Four Musketeers scored in double figures, paced by Fernanda Ovalle and Aanaya Harris who both had a game-high 14 points. Taylor Smith added 11 points, while Mackayla Scarlett finished with 10 points. Xavier has had four or more players score in double figures three times this season.
• Defensively, the Musketeers limited the Monarchs to a .266 field-goal percentage (17-for-64). It was the lowest field-goal percentage by a Xavier opponent since Nov. 17, 2018 (held Fairfield to a .220 field-goal percentage).
• Freshman guard Fernanda Ovalle finished with a season-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting. She added a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks.
• Aanaya Harris finished with a season-high 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting, her second straight game in double figures and the 18th double-figure game of her career. She added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Taylor Smith scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting to go along with a game-high four steals. She added two rebounds.
• Mackayla Scarlett finished with 10 points, her fourth straight game with 10 or more points and the 15th double-figure game of her career. The guard added two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
• Courtney Prenger added eight points on 3-for-4 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Shelby Calhoun chipped in four points and five assists.
• Xavier hit 48.9 percent of its shot attempts (23-for-47) and went 5-for-12 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 14-for-23 from the foul line.
• Old Dominion held a 19-5 advantage in points off of turnovers, forcing the Musketeers into a season-high 31 miscues. Xavier scored six more points in the paint (30-24) and had two more second-chance points (7-5). Both teams scored 11 fastbreak points.
|
|
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS |
• Fernanda Ovalle was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Nov. 21. The Musketeers have now had two players earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors this season.
• The freshman guard posted her first career double-double last week, leading the Musketeers to a 65-49 win over Old Dominion on Nov. 22 at Cintas Center.
• The Santiago, Chile, native finished with a season-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting. She added a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 14 - Kaleigh Addie - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 21 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
|
|
NOTABLES |
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game behind a .450 field-goal percentage (18-for-40). She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (10), while ranking eighth in the three-point field-goal percentage (.476). Taylor Smith also ranks tied for fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (.500).
• Three other Musketeers are averaging 10 or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (10.3), Aanaya Harris (9.5) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.3). Harris and Ovalle have both posted .500 field-goal percentages this season.
• Courtney Prenger ranks 12th in the BIG EAST in rebounding, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. The senior forward also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.517).
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.455), while ranking tied for sixth in three pointers made per game (6.3). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier also leads the BIG EAST in blocks, averaging 5.8 blocks per game. Megan Harkey and Courtney Prenger lead the team with six blocks each, ranking tied for fifth in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers also rank third in the BIG EAST in steals (11.3), paced by Taylor Smith who has a team-high 10 steals.
• Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring offense, averaging 75.2 points per game. The Musketeers ranked eighth in the conference in scoring offense last season (62.3).
• Freshman guard Fernanda Ovalle ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ration (13 assists vs six turnovers).
• Xavier ranks third in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.455) and 22nd in blocks per game (5.8).
• Xavier opened its season with an 87-68 win at Miami (Ohio). The 87 points are the most in a game for Xavier since Dec. 18, 2018 vs Alabama State (W, 87-58).
• The Musketeers made eight 3-pointers (8-for-11) at Miami (Ohio), the most in a game since Feb. 22, 2021 at Butler (9-for-30).
|
|
ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS |
• Aanaya Harris returns for her sophomore season after posting 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She added 52 assists, 23 steals and eight blocks.
• Aanaya Harris added a .463 field-goal percentage, ranking second among BIG EAST freshmen and 14th overall. Her 9.2 points per game also ranked third among conference freshmen.
• Senior Shaila Beeler led the team in assists (117) and steals (34) last season, while adding 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The guard ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.805) and fifth in assists (4.0).
• Xavier also welcomes five newcomers: Taylor Smith (missed 2021-22 season with an injury), Nila Blackford (transfer from Kent State), Fernanda Ovalle, Bella Ward and June Ruiz Azkue.
|
|
SCHEDULE NOTES |
• The Musketeers will play five of their first six BIG EAST games at Cintas Center. Xavier opens its conference schedule on Black Friday vs Creighton who advanced to the 2022 NCAA Elite Eight.
• Xavier will play four games on national television: at Georgetown on Dec. 4 (FS1), vs Villanova on Jan. 1 (CBS Sports Network), vs UConn on Jan. 5 (SNY) and at UConn on Feb. 27 (CBS Sports Network).
• The BIG EAST Tournament will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for the third straight season. The tournament will be held on March 3-6.
• Xavier will play nine non-conference games (two on the road, seven at home). The Musketeers will play teams from seven different conferences (MAC, Horizon, NEC, Sun Belt, Southland, OVC, AAC). Xavier will play three teams for the first time in program history (Old Dominion, SIUE, Eastern Michigan).
• Xavier will play seven non-conference home games, the most non-conference home games for the Musketeers since 2018-19 (nine games).
• The Musketeers have won 56 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 45-10 mark at Cintas Center.
|
|
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.
|
|
BIG EAST COACHES' POLL |
| 1. | UConn (10) | 100 |
| 2. | Creighton | 89 |
| 3. | Villanova (1) | 83 |
| T-4. | DePaul | 68 |
| T-4. | Seton Hall | 68 |
| 6. | Marquette | 56 |
| 7. | St. John's | 47 |
| 8. | Providence | 34 |
| T-9. | Butler | 21 |
| T-9. | Georgetown | 21 |
| 11. | Xavier | 18 |
|
|
UP NEXT |
• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Nov. 25 vs No. 16 Creighton in the team's BIG EAST opener. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Lucía Martínez López
Tuesday, September 23
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Denise Neves
Saturday, September 20
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Payton Richards
Friday, September 19
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Penda Dieng
Monday, September 08