Balanced Offense Leads to Season Sweep of Butler

Sunday, February 20

Indianapolis, Ind.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

9-17,4-13Big East

Butler

1-23,0-15Big East

Xavier

Butler

Balanced Offense Leads to Season Sweep of Butler

02.20.22 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Five Musketeers score in double figures; Xavier tops Bulldogs, 73-54

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Five Musketeers scored in double figures on Sunday night as Xavier topped Butler, 73-54, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Musketeers (9-17, 4-13 BIG EAST) swept the season series vs the Bulldogs (1-23, 0-15 BIG EAST) as Xavier earned its first season sweep of a conference foe since 2018-19 (beat Seton Hall twice).

FIRST HALF

• Xavier jumped out to an early 9-2 lead and took its first double-figure advantage, 16-6, at the 2:38 mark. The Musketeers led 20-7 before the Bulldogs closed the first frame on a 4-0 run, closing within nine points (20-11).

• The Musketeers took their largest lead of the half, 34-15, on a Shelby Calhoun three pointer with 4:13 left in the first half. Butler responded by closing the half on an 11-4 run, making the score 38-26.

• Ayanna Townsend scored 11 points in the first half to go along with five rebounds. Shelby Calhoun added eight points and five rebounds. Xavier hit 53.1 percent (17-for-32) of its shot attempts and held a 16-14 advantage on the glass.

SECOND HALF

• Xavier maintained its double-figure lead for the rest of the game. Butler closed within 12 points (40-28) with 8:02 left in the third quarter before back-to-back baskets from Shelby Calhoun and Mackayla Scarlett pushed the Musketeer lead to 17 points (45-28).

• Xavier took its first 20-point advantage (56-36) with 1:29 left in the third frame. The Musketeers hit their first five shots of the final quarter, taking a 66-45 lead with seven minutes left in regulation. Xavier hit 53.3 percent (8-for-15) of its shot attempts in the fourth quarter to pull away for the 73-54 victory.

NOTABLES

• Xavier finished the game with a .524 field-goal percentage (33-for-63) , the team's second-highest percentage of the season and fourth game shooting over 50 percent from the floor. The 33 made field goals are the third most in a game for the Musketeers this season.

• Xavier matched its season high in three pointers made with six (also had six vs Butler on Dec. 29).

• Xavier snapped a three-game losing streak at Hinkle Fieldhouse, moving to 4-5 in the building. The Musketeers last win at Hinkle Fieldhouse was on Dec. 29, 2017 (W, 69-62).

• Xavier forced 20 turnovers, converting the miscues into 23 points (second most this season for the Musketeers). The Musketeers also held an 18-4 advantage in fastbreak points.

• Xavier won the battle on the glass, 35-30. Ayanna Townsend pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while Shelby Calhoun chipped in six rebounds.

• Ayanna Townsend scored a game-high 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting, her 11th game in double figures this season.

• Courtney Prenger added a career-high 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting. She chipped in two rebounds and two assists.

• Shaila Beeler and Mackayla Scarlett each scored 11 points. Beeler posted a game-high 10 assists to go along with three rebounds. Scarlett knocked down a team-high three 3-pointers.

• Shelby Calhoun rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting. She added two assists and two steals.

• Xavier recorded 23 assists, the third most in a game for the Musketeers this season. Xavier now has five games with 20 or more assists this season.

• Xavier entered the game as the BIG EAST leader in free throws made, but was limited to only five free-throw attempts (1-for-5).

UP NEXT

• Xavier closes regular-season action with three straight home BIG EAST games. The Musketeers open the homestand on Friday, Feb. 25 vs Georgetown at 7 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS