Upset Bid Falls Short vs No. 16 Creighton in BIG EAST Opener

Friday, November 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

12 p.m.

Xavier University

5-1,0-1Big East

Creighton

6-0,1-0Big East

Creighton

Xavier

Upset Bid Falls Short vs No. 16 Creighton in BIG EAST Opener

11.25.22 | Women's Basketball

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Fernanda Ovalle scored 15 points in Friday's 57-51 loss

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped its BIG EAST opener to No. 16 Creighton on Friday, 57-51, at Cintas Center. The Musketeers moved to 5-1 (0-1 BIG EAST), while the Bluejays improved to 6-0 (1-0 BIG EAST).

The Musketeers led the nationally ranked Bluejays, 46-44, with 3:27 left in regulation. Creighton responded by closing the game on a 13-5 run on 3-for-3 shooting to escape Cincinnati with a six-point victory. The Bluejays were also 6-for-6 from the foul line during the run.

Xavier made it a two-point game (53-51) with 15 seconds left on the clock on a Fernanda Ovalle layup, but the Musketeers were forced to foul on the ensuing possession.

The game featured four ties and four lead changes. Neither team led by double figures in the contest.

NOTABLE

• Fernanda Ovalle matched her career-high in scoring for the second time in as many games, scoring 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting. The freshman guard added five rebounds and one steal. She has scored in double figures four times this season.

• Taylor Smith matched Ovalle for the team high in scoring as she also scored 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting. The guard added two rebounds, one steal, one block and one assist. She was also 4-for-5 from the foul line. The Marietta, Ga., native has scored in double figures five times this season.

• Mackayla Scarlettt rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points, her sixth game of the year in double figures. The junior guard added six assists and one steal.

• Kaysia Woods added a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with seven points. Courtney Prenger finished with three rebounds and four points.

• Creighton won the battle on th glass, 43-40, and scored two more points off of turnovers (13-11). Creighton also scored four more points in the paint (24-20), while Xavier held an 11-8 advantage in second-chance points.

• Xavier was limited to a season-low .286 field-goal percentage (18-for-63). The Musketeers hit 90.9 percent (10-for-11) of their free throw attempts.

• The Musketeer defense limited Creighton to a season-low .333 field-goal percentage (19-for-57). The four 3-pointers for the Bluejays also matched a season low.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers continues non-conference action at SIUE on Sunday, Nov. 27. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET from First Community Arena.

HIGHLIGHTS