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Wednesday, December 21
Cincinnati, Ohio
1 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Memphis
Xavier Plays Host to Memphis in Final Non-Conference Game
12.20.22 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball closes non-conference action vs Memphis on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-4) vs MEMPHIS TIGERS (7-5)
Game Info - Wednesday, Dec. 21 - 1 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
2022-23 Record: 7-5
2021-22 Record: 16-12 (6-9 AAC)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 2-0
Last Meeting: Memphis 84, Xavier 64 (Nov. 9, 2022 - Memphis, Tenn.)
NOTABLES
• Memphis was picked to finish tied for fifth in the Preseason AAC Coaches' Poll after posting a 16-12 (6-9 AAC) record last year. Jamirah Shutes was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• Memphis ranks third in the AAC in scoring offense (75.4) and 10th in scoring defense (66.9). The Tigers also rank third in three-point field-goal percentage (.354) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.262).
• Jamirah Shutes ranks fifth in the AAC in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Hannah Riddick ranks 12th in the AAC in rebounding, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Memphis, 2-0. Wednesday's meeting will be the first game played in Cincinnati in the series history.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS
Jan. 7, 1985 - Memphis 102, Xavier 57 (Memphis, Tenn.)
Nov. 9, 2021- Memphis 84, Xavier 64 (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Xavier is coming off a 51-44 loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 17 at Cintas Center. Xavier led 31-23 with 3:27 left in the third quarter before the Eagles outscored the Musketeers, 28-13, to close the game.
• Mackayla Scarlett led Xavier in scoring with nine points, while Fernanda Ovalle added eight points. Courtney Prenger and Taylor Smith each chipped in six points.
• Nila Blackford and Courtney Prenger each grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Xavier and Eastern Michigan each had 42 rebounds in the game. Prenger added three assists, two steals and two blocks.
• Xavier was held to a season-low 44 points and .238 field-goal percentage (15-for-63). The 15 made baskets are also a season low. The Musketeers finished the game 4-for-18 behind the arc and 10-for-16 from the foul line.
• Defensively, Xavier limited Eastern Michigan to a season-low 51 points. The Eagles finished with a .295 field-goal percentage (13-for-44), the team's second lowest shooting percentage this season.
• Eastern Michigan scored six more point off of turnovers (15-9) and held a 12-8 advantage in fastbreak points. Both teams scored 16 points in the paint and 13 bench points. The Musketeers held a 9-8 advantage in second-chance points.
• Xavier has had two players earn Freshman of the Week honors this season, most recently Fernanda Ovalle on Nov. 28.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 14 - Kaleigh Addie - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 21 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 28 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
• Nila Blackford has 982 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 12.1 points per game during her career.
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 18th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (22). Kaysia Woods rank second on the team in three pointers made (16), while ranking 15th in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.390).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging 10 or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (11.9) and Fernanda Ovalle (10.9). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.471) and third in rebounding (5.4).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 17 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking second in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks third in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.368). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks first in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.249).
• Xavier also ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.7) and steals (8.9), while ranking fifth in assists (16.1). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (16) and assists (37).
• Xavier ranks 26th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage, 55th in assists per game and 35th in blocks per game. Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 51st in the NCAA in total blocks.
• Fernanda Ovalle (20 points) and Mackayla Scarlett (21 points) both set career highs in scoring at SIUE on Nov. 27. It marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2020 that Xavier had two players score 20 or more points in a game (A'riana Gray and Aaliyah Dunham each scored 20 points at Georgetown).
• Xavier defeated Cincinnati, 48-35, on Dec. 9 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. The 35 points are the fewest allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 17, 2018 vs Fairfield (W, 48-35). The .179 field-goal percentage is the lowest field-goal percentage allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 25, 2015 (held Southeastern Louisiana to a .190 field-goal percentage on 11-for-58 shooting).
• Xavier dished out 30 assists on 33 made baskets (33-for-70) vs McNeese State, the most by a BIG EAST team this season and tied for the 10th most in a game this season in the NCAA. The 30 assists rank tied for second in single-game school history. The last time Xavier had 30 assists in a game was on Dec. 8, 1999 vs Charlotte.
• 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).
• 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 opened 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 played 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 59 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 47-11 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 BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 28 vs Butler. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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THE MATCHUP VS MEMPHIS |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-4) vs MEMPHIS TIGERS (7-5)
Game Info - Wednesday, Dec. 21 - 1 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
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ABOUT THE TIGERS |
2022-23 Record: 7-52021-22 Record: 16-12 (6-9 AAC)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 2-0
Last Meeting: Memphis 84, Xavier 64 (Nov. 9, 2022 - Memphis, Tenn.)
NOTABLES
• Memphis was picked to finish tied for fifth in the Preseason AAC Coaches' Poll after posting a 16-12 (6-9 AAC) record last year. Jamirah Shutes was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• Memphis ranks third in the AAC in scoring offense (75.4) and 10th in scoring defense (66.9). The Tigers also rank third in three-point field-goal percentage (.354) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.262).
• Jamirah Shutes ranks fifth in the AAC in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Hannah Riddick ranks 12th in the AAC in rebounding, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.
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SERIES HISTORY |
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Memphis, 2-0. Wednesday's meeting will be the first game played in Cincinnati in the series history.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS
Jan. 7, 1985 - Memphis 102, Xavier 57 (Memphis, Tenn.)
Nov. 9, 2021- Memphis 84, Xavier 64 (Memphis, Tenn.)
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier is coming off a 51-44 loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 17 at Cintas Center. Xavier led 31-23 with 3:27 left in the third quarter before the Eagles outscored the Musketeers, 28-13, to close the game.
• Mackayla Scarlett led Xavier in scoring with nine points, while Fernanda Ovalle added eight points. Courtney Prenger and Taylor Smith each chipped in six points.
• Nila Blackford and Courtney Prenger each grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Xavier and Eastern Michigan each had 42 rebounds in the game. Prenger added three assists, two steals and two blocks.
• Xavier was held to a season-low 44 points and .238 field-goal percentage (15-for-63). The 15 made baskets are also a season low. The Musketeers finished the game 4-for-18 behind the arc and 10-for-16 from the foul line.
• Defensively, Xavier limited Eastern Michigan to a season-low 51 points. The Eagles finished with a .295 field-goal percentage (13-for-44), the team's second lowest shooting percentage this season.
• Eastern Michigan scored six more point off of turnovers (15-9) and held a 12-8 advantage in fastbreak points. Both teams scored 16 points in the paint and 13 bench points. The Musketeers held a 9-8 advantage in second-chance points.
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BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS |
• Xavier has had two players earn Freshman of the Week honors this season, most recently Fernanda Ovalle on Nov. 28.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 14 - Kaleigh Addie - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 21 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 28 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
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BLACKFORD - MILESTONE WATCH |
• Nila Blackford has 982 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 12.1 points per game during her career.
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NOTABLES |
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 18th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (22). Kaysia Woods rank second on the team in three pointers made (16), while ranking 15th in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.390).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging 10 or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (11.9) and Fernanda Ovalle (10.9). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.471) and third in rebounding (5.4).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 17 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking second in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks third in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.368). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks first in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.249).
• Xavier also ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.7) and steals (8.9), while ranking fifth in assists (16.1). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (16) and assists (37).
• Xavier ranks 26th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage, 55th in assists per game and 35th in blocks per game. Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 51st in the NCAA in total blocks.
• Fernanda Ovalle (20 points) and Mackayla Scarlett (21 points) both set career highs in scoring at SIUE on Nov. 27. It marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2020 that Xavier had two players score 20 or more points in a game (A'riana Gray and Aaliyah Dunham each scored 20 points at Georgetown).
• Xavier defeated Cincinnati, 48-35, on Dec. 9 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. The 35 points are the fewest allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 17, 2018 vs Fairfield (W, 48-35). The .179 field-goal percentage is the lowest field-goal percentage allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 25, 2015 (held Southeastern Louisiana to a .190 field-goal percentage on 11-for-58 shooting).
• Xavier dished out 30 assists on 33 made baskets (33-for-70) vs McNeese State, the most by a BIG EAST team this season and tied for the 10th most in a game this season in the NCAA. The 30 assists rank tied for second in single-game school history. The last time Xavier had 30 assists in a game was on Dec. 8, 1999 vs Charlotte.
• 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).
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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.
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SCHEDULE NOTES |
• The Musketeers will play five of their first six BIG EAST games at Cintas Center. Xavier opened 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 played 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 59 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 47-11 mark at Cintas Center.
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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.
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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 |
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UP NEXT |
• The Musketeers return to BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 28 vs Butler. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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