Upset Bid Falls Short vs Villanova on Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, February 27

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

9-19,4-15Big East

Villanova

21-7,15-4Big East

Villanova

Xavier

Upset Bid Falls Short vs Villanova on Sunday Afternoon

02.27.22 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Photos BIG EAST Tournament Central

Senior Ayanna Townsend scored a team-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier's upset bid of Villanova fell short on Sunday afternoon, 58-49, at Cintas Center on Senior Day.

The Musketeers (9-19, 4-15 BIG EAST) led by four points (44-40) with 7:04 left in regulation, but the Wildcats (21-7, 15-4 BIG EAST) finished the game on an 18-5 run with 11 points coming from presumptive All-American Maddy Siegrist - pulling away for the nine-point victory.

Villanova won the first meeting between the two schools this season by 25 points (82-57) on Jan. 30. The Wildcats locked up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament on March 4-7 following the win.

FIRST HALF

• The first half was back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than two possessions. Xavier took a two-point lead (18-16) with 6:48 left in the half on an Ayanna Townsend basket before the Wildcats closed the frame on an 8-4 run, taking a two-point advantage into the locker room (24-22).

• Mackayla Scarlett led Xavier with seven points at the break, while Courtney Prenger added five points and seven rebounds. Xavier held a 21-19 advantage on the glass at the half.

SECOND HALF

• Villanova led by as many as nine points (38-29) with 4:01 left in the third quarter before the Musketeers closed the frame on an 8-0 run capped by a Shaila Beeler layup, making the score 38-37.

• Xavier opened the final quarter on a 7-2 run, taking a four-point lead with 7:04 on the clock. The Wildcats responded with an 18-5 run to pull away for the 58-49 victory, the team's fourth straight win.

• Ayanna Townsend scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the second half, going 4-for-9 from the floor.

NOTABLES

• Ayanna Townsend finished the game with a team-high 13 points on 6-for-13 shooting, her 21st career double-figure outing. She added six rebounds.

• Mackayla Scarlett chipped in 11 points, her 10th career game in double figures. She added one rebound and one steal.

• Courtney Prenger added seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds. The 11 rebounds matched Villanova's Brianna Herlihy for the game high in rebounding.

• Shaila Beeler finished with eight points and a career-high seven rebounds. She added three assists and two steals. Megan Harkey chipped in six points and five rebounds.

• Villanova won the battle on the glass, 39-38, and scored nine more fastbreak points (11-2). Xavier held a 13-9 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored six more second-chance points (12-6).

• The Wildcats had three more steals (9-6) and five more blocks (5-0). Villanova also had 10 more assists (17-7).

• Both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor as the Wildcats hit 34.4 percent (21-for-61) of their shot attempts and the Musketeets recorded a .373 clip (19-for-51).

• The game featured nine lead changes and six ties.

UP NEXT

• Xavier concludes regular-season action vs Seton Hall on Tuesday, March 1. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Cintas Center.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

• Xavier will be either the No. 9 seed or No. 10 seed at the BIG EAST Tournament on March 4-7. A win over Seton Hall would secure the No. 9 seed, while a loss would give the Musketeers the No. 10 seed.

Schedule:
March 4 – First Round
Game 1: 8 seed Providence vs. 9 seed (XAVIER/GEORGETOWN), 11 a.m. (BEDN on FloSports)
Game 2: 7 seed St. John's vs. 10 seed (XAVIER/GEORGETOWN), 1:30 p.m. (BEDN on FloSports)
Game 3: 6 seed Seton Hall vs. 11 seed Butler, 4 p.m. (BEDN on FloSports)

March 5 – Quarterfinals
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. 1 seed Connecticut, Noon (FS1)
Game 5: 4 seed DePaul vs. 5 seed Marquette, 2:30 p.m. (FS2)
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. 2 seed Villanova, 7 p.m. (FS2)
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. 3 seed Creighton, 9:30 p.m. (FS2)

March 6 – Semifinals
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3 p.m. (FS1)
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 5:30 p.m. (FS1)

March 7 - Final
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs Game 9 winner, 8 p.m. (FS1)

POSTGAME INTERVIEW