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Xavier University Athletics
Sunday, February 27
Cincinnati, Ohio
2 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Villanova
Senior Day Set for Sunday vs Villanova
02.26.22 | Women's Basketball
Xavier will recognize its lone senior Ayanna Townsend prior to tip-off
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues its homestand on Sunday, Feb. 27 vs Villanova.Β Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.Β from Cintas Center.
The Musketeers will recognize its lone senior, Ayanna Townsend, prior to the start of the game.
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XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-18, 4-14)Β vs VILLANOVA WILDCATSΒ (20-7, 14-4)
Game Info - Sunday, Feb.Β 27Β - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live VideoΒ -Β bit.ly/359901h
Live Stats -Β bit.ly/2qqIPeu
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2021-22Β Record:Β 20-7Β (14-4 BIG EAST)
2020-21Β Record:Β 17-7 (9-5 BIG EAST)
2021 Postseason:Β WNIT - Third Round
Series History:Β Xavier trails, 16-1
Last Meeting:Β Villanova 82, Xavier 57 (Jan. 30, 2022Β - Villanova, Pa.)
NOTABLES
β’ Villanova has won three straight games, most recently picking up a 72-36 win at Butler on Friday night. The Wildcats rank third in the BIG EAST standings and are 8-5 in road games this season.
β’ The Wildcats are led by Maddy Siegrist who averages 26.5 points per game, ranking first in the BIG EAST and second in the NCAA. She also ranks second in the conference in rebounding (9.7), third in free-throw percentage (.835) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.506). The junior is one of 10 finalists for the Katrina McClain Award which is given to the top power forward in the country.
β’ Villanova leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.775), while ranking third in scoring defense (61.6) and fifth in field-goal percentage defense (.412).
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β’ Xavier trails the all-time series with Villanova, 16-1. The Musketeers lone win in the series was a 74-67 overtime victory on Dec. 31, 2015 at Cintas Center.
β’ The Musketeers have lost 11 straight in the series and are 1-6 when playing the Wildcats at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS VILLANOVA
Jan. 30, 2022 - Villanova 82, Xavier 57 (Villanova, Pa.)
March 6, 2020 - Villanova 64, Xavier 56 (OT) (Chicago, Ill.)
Feb. 7, 2020 - Villanova 55, Xavier 54 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 12, 2020 - Villanova 66, Xavier 54 (Villanova, Pa.)
March 1, 2019 - Villanova 68, Xavier 63 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
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β’ Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 82-57, on Jan. 30 in Villanova, Pa. Ayanna TownsendΒ posted nine points, one steal and one rebound.Β Shelby CalhounΒ had six rebounds, four points, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
β’Β Shaila BeelerΒ finished with seven points and a team-high three assists.Β Kaysia WoodsΒ added six points via two second-half three pointers.
β’ Villanova won the battle on the glass, 41-29, and scored eight more points off of turnovers (16-8) than the Musketeers. Xavier scored six more bench points (19-13) than the Wildcats and held a 14-5 advantage in fastbreak points.
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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 54-40 loss to Georgetown on Friday night. Shelby CalhounΒ paced the Musketeers in scoring with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, her eighth game of the year in double figures. The guard also matchedΒ Mackayla ScarlettΒ for the team high in rebounds with seven.
β’Β Ayanna TownsendΒ chipped in seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.Β Shaila BeelerΒ finished with six points, four rebounds and two assists.Β
β’Β Kaysia WoodsΒ scored five points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds. Mackayla ScarlettΒ added four points and three assists. Her seven rebounds matched her career high in the category.
β’Β Xavier matched its season low in made field goals with 12 (12-for-47). The .255 field-goal percentage is the third lowest for the Musketeers. The 40 points are also the second fewest in a game for Xavier this season.
β’Β Georgetown won the battle on the glass, 51-41, and scored 10 more second-chance points (19-9). The Hoyas also held a 24-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
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β’ Xavier has had nine different players lead the team in scoring through 27Β games. Aanaya Harris has led the team in scoring five times, followed by Ayanna Townsend (four times), Shaila Beeler (three times),Β Mackayla Scarlett (three), Shelby Calhoun (twice),Β Mikayla Hayes (once) and Kaysia Woods (once).
β’ All told, five (active) players are averaging 7.7Β points per game or more this season. Four different (active) players haveΒ dished out 25 or more assists this season.
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β’ Shelby Calhoun has averaged 8.8Β points and 6.4Β rebounds in her last fiveΒ games. She has addedΒ eightΒ steals and assists during that stretch.Β Ayanna Townsend has posted a team-high 9.4 points per game during that span. The forward has added 4.8 rebounds per game and a team-high 10 steals.
β’Β Xavier ranks fifth the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.745), while ranking 66th in the NCAA. The Musketeers rank 41stΒ in the NCAA in free-throws made (362). Xavier has made more free throws than any other team in the BIG EAST this season (next closest team is DePaul with 346 free throws).
β’Β Ayanna Townsend ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.473) and 19th in rebounding (5.3). Shaila Beeler ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.800) and seventhΒ in assists (3.9).
β’ Freshman Aanaya Harris leads theΒ team (active players) in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game. She has hit 46.4 percent (89-for-192) of her shot attempts this season, ranking 14th in the BIG EAST. She ranks third on the team (active players)Β in total blocks (8) and thirdΒ in total assists (50).
β’Β Sophomore Mackayla Scarlett has averaged 7.9 points per game this season and has made a team-high 35 three pointers. The guard averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and made one three pointer. She is averaging 8.8 points per game in BIG EAST only games this season.
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.
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.
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β’ Ayanna TownsendΒ has 77 career blocks, ranking eighth all-time at Xavier. She is oneΒ blockΒ away from moving into seventhΒ place with Carol MadsenΒ (1991-94).
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β’ Xavier played 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 began on Dec. 3 at Marquette and concludes on March 1 at Cintas Center vs Seton Hall. The Musketeers playedΒ 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. Xavier will play in an opening round game on Friday, March 5.
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 concludes regular-season action vs Seton Hall on Tuesday, March 1. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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The Musketeers will recognize its lone senior, Ayanna Townsend, prior to the start of the game.
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 |
Β THE MATCHUP VS VILLANOVA |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-18, 4-14)Β vs VILLANOVA WILDCATSΒ (20-7, 14-4)
Game Info - Sunday, Feb.Β 27Β - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live VideoΒ -Β bit.ly/359901h
Live Stats -Β bit.ly/2qqIPeu
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Β ABOUT VILLANOVA |
2021-22Β Record:Β 20-7Β (14-4 BIG EAST)2020-21Β Record:Β 17-7 (9-5 BIG EAST)
2021 Postseason:Β WNIT - Third Round
Series History:Β Xavier trails, 16-1
Last Meeting:Β Villanova 82, Xavier 57 (Jan. 30, 2022Β - Villanova, Pa.)
NOTABLES
β’ Villanova has won three straight games, most recently picking up a 72-36 win at Butler on Friday night. The Wildcats rank third in the BIG EAST standings and are 8-5 in road games this season.
β’ The Wildcats are led by Maddy Siegrist who averages 26.5 points per game, ranking first in the BIG EAST and second in the NCAA. She also ranks second in the conference in rebounding (9.7), third in free-throw percentage (.835) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.506). The junior is one of 10 finalists for the Katrina McClain Award which is given to the top power forward in the country.
β’ Villanova leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.775), while ranking third in scoring defense (61.6) and fifth in field-goal percentage defense (.412).
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Β SERIES HISTORY |
β’ Xavier trails the all-time series with Villanova, 16-1. The Musketeers lone win in the series was a 74-67 overtime victory on Dec. 31, 2015 at Cintas Center.
β’ The Musketeers have lost 11 straight in the series and are 1-6 when playing the Wildcats at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS VILLANOVA
Jan. 30, 2022 - Villanova 82, Xavier 57 (Villanova, Pa.)
March 6, 2020 - Villanova 64, Xavier 56 (OT) (Chicago, Ill.)
Feb. 7, 2020 - Villanova 55, Xavier 54 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 12, 2020 - Villanova 66, Xavier 54 (Villanova, Pa.)
March 1, 2019 - Villanova 68, Xavier 63 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
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Β LAST TIME OUT VS THE WILDCATS |
β’ Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 82-57, on Jan. 30 in Villanova, Pa. Ayanna TownsendΒ posted nine points, one steal and one rebound.Β Shelby CalhounΒ had six rebounds, four points, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
β’Β Shaila BeelerΒ finished with seven points and a team-high three assists.Β Kaysia WoodsΒ added six points via two second-half three pointers.
β’ Villanova won the battle on the glass, 41-29, and scored eight more points off of turnovers (16-8) than the Musketeers. Xavier scored six more bench points (19-13) than the Wildcats and held a 14-5 advantage in fastbreak points.
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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 54-40 loss to Georgetown on Friday night. Shelby CalhounΒ paced the Musketeers in scoring with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, her eighth game of the year in double figures. The guard also matchedΒ Mackayla ScarlettΒ for the team high in rebounds with seven.
β’Β Ayanna TownsendΒ chipped in seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.Β Shaila BeelerΒ finished with six points, four rebounds and two assists.Β
β’Β Kaysia WoodsΒ scored five points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds. Mackayla ScarlettΒ added four points and three assists. Her seven rebounds matched her career high in the category.
β’Β Xavier matched its season low in made field goals with 12 (12-for-47). The .255 field-goal percentage is the third lowest for the Musketeers. The 40 points are also the second fewest in a game for Xavier this season.
β’Β Georgetown won the battle on the glass, 51-41, and scored 10 more second-chance points (19-9). The Hoyas also held a 24-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
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Β BALANCEDΒ OFFENSE |
β’ Xavier has had nine different players lead the team in scoring through 27Β games. Aanaya Harris has led the team in scoring five times, followed by Ayanna Townsend (four times), Shaila Beeler (three times),Β Mackayla Scarlett (three), Shelby Calhoun (twice),Β Mikayla Hayes (once) and Kaysia Woods (once).
β’ All told, five (active) players are averaging 7.7Β points per game or more this season. Four different (active) players haveΒ dished out 25 or more assists this season.
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Β NOTABLES |
β’ Shelby Calhoun has averaged 8.8Β points and 6.4Β rebounds in her last fiveΒ games. She has addedΒ eightΒ steals and assists during that stretch.Β Ayanna Townsend has posted a team-high 9.4 points per game during that span. The forward has added 4.8 rebounds per game and a team-high 10 steals.
β’Β Xavier ranks fifth the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.745), while ranking 66th in the NCAA. The Musketeers rank 41stΒ in the NCAA in free-throws made (362). Xavier has made more free throws than any other team in the BIG EAST this season (next closest team is DePaul with 346 free throws).
β’Β Ayanna Townsend ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.473) and 19th in rebounding (5.3). Shaila Beeler ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.800) and seventhΒ in assists (3.9).
β’ Freshman Aanaya Harris leads theΒ team (active players) in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game. She has hit 46.4 percent (89-for-192) of her shot attempts this season, ranking 14th in the BIG EAST. She ranks third on the team (active players)Β in total blocks (8) and thirdΒ in total assists (50).
β’Β Sophomore Mackayla Scarlett has averaged 7.9 points per game this season and has made a team-high 35 three pointers. The guard averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and made one three pointer. She is averaging 8.8 points per game in BIG EAST only games this season.
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.
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.
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Β AYANNA TOWNSEND CAREER WATCH |
β’ Ayanna TownsendΒ has 77 career blocks, ranking eighth all-time at Xavier. She is oneΒ blockΒ away from moving into seventhΒ place with Carol MadsenΒ (1991-94).
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Β SCHEDULE NOTES |
β’ Xavier played 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 began on Dec. 3 at Marquette and concludes on March 1 at Cintas Center vs Seton Hall. The Musketeers playedΒ 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. Xavier will play in an opening round game on Friday, March 5.
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 concludes regular-season action vs Seton Hall on Tuesday, March 1. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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