Musketeers Drop New Year's Day Game vs Wildcats

Sunday, January 1

Cincinnati, Ohio

12 p.m.

Xavier University

7-7,0-5Big East

Villanova

12-3,3-1Big East

Villanova

Xavier

Musketeers Drop New Year's Day Game vs Wildcats

01.01.23 | Women's Basketball

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Villanova tops Xavier, 77-49, at Cintas Center on Sunday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball dropped a 77-49 BIG EAST contest vs Villanova on Sunday afternoon at Cintas Center. The Musketeers fall to 7-7 (0-5 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improve to 12-3 (3-1 BIG EAST).

Villanova started the game on a 13-0 run and led by as many as 35 points (60-25) with 5:36 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats only outscored the Musketeers by three points (31-28) in the second half. Xavier couldn't overcome the slow start as the Wildcats held a 46-21 lead at halftime.

NOTABLES

• Courtney Prenger scored a team-high 12 points on 6-for-12 shooting, her 11th career game in double figures (seventh during the 2022-23 season). The senior forward added three steals, two blocks and one rebound.

• Mackayla Scarlett added 10 points, three rebounds and one steal in 20 minutes of action. Aanaya Harris added nine points on 4-for-6 shooting to go along with a team-high three assists.

• Three other Musketeers added six points: Nila Blackford, Shelby Calhoun and Taylor Smith.

• Nila Blackford is now only two points away from 1,000 career points. The forward added a team-high six rebounds.

• Shelby Calhoun added four rebounds, two steals and two assists. Smith chipped in three rebounds and two assists.

• Xavier had 10 steals in the game, the team's fourth game of the year with 10 or more steals. Villanova won the battle on the glass, 37-22, and held a 19-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.

• Villanova also scored 11 more second-chance points (14-3) and had 10 more bench points (16-6). The Wildcats also held a 13-2 advantage in fastbreak points and a 32-28 advantage in points in the paint.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 5 vs No. 8 UConn at Cintas Center. The game will be aired nationally on SNY with tip-off set for 7 p.m.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW