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Saturday, January 28
Cincinnati, Ohio
2 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Providence
Xavier, Providence Set for Saturday Matinee
01.27.23 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues BIG EAST action vs Providence on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-13, 0-11) vs PROVIDENCE FRIARS (12-10, 3-8)
Game Info - Saturday, Jan. 28 - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
2022-23 Record: 12-10 (3-8 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Record: 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 12-8
Last Meeting: Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence, R.I.)
NOTABLES
• The Friars were picked to finish eighth in the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll after posting an 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST) record last season. Senior guard Janai Crooms earned preseason all-conference honors.
• Providence ranks third in the BIG EAST in rebounding margin (+4.4), sixth in scoring defense (62.0) and ninth in scoring offense (63.0). The Friars also rank sixth in field-goal percentage defense (.392), seventh in field-goal percentage (.417) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.654).
• Janai Crooms leads the team in scoring (11.9), rebounding (7.2) and assists (4.0). She ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in assists and ninth in rebounding. Olivia Olsen has added 11.5 points per game and a team-high .518 field-goal percentage.
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-8, and is 2-3 in the last five meetings. The Musketeers are 7-2 when playing the Friars at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Providence, R.I.)
Feb. 13, 2022 - Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Providence, R.I.)
Jan. 11, 2022 - Providence 54, Xavier 49 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 31, 2020 - Xavier 64, Providence 50 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Feb. 21, 2020 - Xavier 61, Providence 42 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 64-50, on Jan. 11. Kaysia Woods recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The 14 points matched her career high in scoring (also scored 14 points vs UConn on Feb. 18, 2022). The 10 rebounds matched her season high in rebounding (also had 10 rebounds vs Creighton on Nov. 25). The Omaha, Neb., native was 5-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc.
• Aanaya Harris added nine points, two rebounds and one steal. Mackayla Scarlett chipped in eight points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists.
• June Ruiz Azkue finished with six points in her first career start. Nila Blackford posted four rebounds and four points, while Courtney Prenger chipped in a team-high three blocks. Taylor Smith recorded three points and four rebounds.
• Xavier only committed 10 turnovers, the team's second-fewest of the season. Providence won the battle on the glass, 43-30, and held a 32-16 advantage in points in the paint. The Friars also scored three more points off of turnovers (10-7) and four more second-chance points (9-5). The Musketeers held a 29-10 advantage in bench points.
• Xavier is coming off a 64-40 road loss at Marquette on Jan. 25. The first half was back-and-forth before the Golden Eagles closed the stanza on an 11-2 run, taking a 10-point lead into the locker room (28-18). Marquette outscored Xavier, 36-22, in the second half to pull away for their 13th straight victory in the series history.
• Fernanda Ovalle led the Musketeers with nine points on 4-for-10 shooting. The freshman guard also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out two assists.
• Nila Blackford finished with six points on 3-for-7 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. She added one steal and one block.
• Marquette forced 21 Xavier turnovers, converting the miscues into 22 points. The Golden Eagles also held an 11-8 advantage in fastbreak points. Xavier scored four more points in the paint (26-22) than Marquette.
• Xavier had nine steals in the game, the team's ninth game of the year with nine or more steals.
• 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 1,028 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 11.4 points per game during her career. Blackford is the first Xavier player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark since A'riana Gray (2017-21) who finished her career with 1,155 points.
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 20th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore. She also ranks fifth in free-throw percentage (.813) and 12th in steals (1.3).
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks tied for 10th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (33). Kaysia Woods ranks second in the team in three pointers made (28), while Taylor Smith ranks third (23). In BIG EAST only games, Kaysia Woods ranks tied for 12th in three pointers made (17).
• In BIG EAST only games, Mackayla Scarlett ranks third in free-throw percentage (.833). Nila Blackford ranks 10th in steals per game (1.7).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging nine or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (9.3) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.3). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.418) and third in rebounding (4.8).
• Fernanda Ovalle leads all BIG EAST freshmen in rebounding (4.8), while ranking second in scoring (9.3). Georgetown's Kennedy Fauntleroy leads all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring (12.6).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 29 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking third in the BIG EAST. The last time Xavier had a player with 29 or more blocks in a season was in 2019-20 (Ayanna Townsend; 32 blocks).
• Xavier ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.329). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks seventh in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.321).
• Xavier also ranks second in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.2) and fifth in steals (8.0). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (25) and assists (55).
• Xavier ranks 108th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.329) and 56th in blocks per game (4.2). Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 62nd in the NCAA in total blocks (29).
• 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 played nine non-conference games (two on the road, seven at home). The Musketeers played 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 played 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 47-12 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 action on Tuesday, Jan. 31 vs Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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THE MATCHUP VS PROVIDENCE |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-13, 0-11) vs PROVIDENCE FRIARS (12-10, 3-8)
Game Info - Saturday, Jan. 28 - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224)
Live Video (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2qqIPeu
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ABOUT THE FRIARS |
2022-23 Record: 12-10 (3-8 BIG EAST)2021-22 Record: 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 12-8
Last Meeting: Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence, R.I.)
NOTABLES
• The Friars were picked to finish eighth in the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll after posting an 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST) record last season. Senior guard Janai Crooms earned preseason all-conference honors.
• Providence ranks third in the BIG EAST in rebounding margin (+4.4), sixth in scoring defense (62.0) and ninth in scoring offense (63.0). The Friars also rank sixth in field-goal percentage defense (.392), seventh in field-goal percentage (.417) and ninth in free-throw percentage (.654).
• Janai Crooms leads the team in scoring (11.9), rebounding (7.2) and assists (4.0). She ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in assists and ninth in rebounding. Olivia Olsen has added 11.5 points per game and a team-high .518 field-goal percentage.
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SERIES HISTORY |
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-8, and is 2-3 in the last five meetings. The Musketeers are 7-2 when playing the Friars at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Providence, R.I.)
Feb. 13, 2022 - Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Providence, R.I.)
Jan. 11, 2022 - Providence 54, Xavier 49 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 31, 2020 - Xavier 64, Providence 50 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Feb. 21, 2020 - Xavier 61, Providence 42 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
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LAST TIME OUT VS THE FRIARS |
• Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 64-50, on Jan. 11. Kaysia Woods recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The 14 points matched her career high in scoring (also scored 14 points vs UConn on Feb. 18, 2022). The 10 rebounds matched her season high in rebounding (also had 10 rebounds vs Creighton on Nov. 25). The Omaha, Neb., native was 5-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-6 from behind the arc.
• Aanaya Harris added nine points, two rebounds and one steal. Mackayla Scarlett chipped in eight points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists.
• June Ruiz Azkue finished with six points in her first career start. Nila Blackford posted four rebounds and four points, while Courtney Prenger chipped in a team-high three blocks. Taylor Smith recorded three points and four rebounds.
• Xavier only committed 10 turnovers, the team's second-fewest of the season. Providence won the battle on the glass, 43-30, and held a 32-16 advantage in points in the paint. The Friars also scored three more points off of turnovers (10-7) and four more second-chance points (9-5). The Musketeers held a 29-10 advantage in bench points.
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier is coming off a 64-40 road loss at Marquette on Jan. 25. The first half was back-and-forth before the Golden Eagles closed the stanza on an 11-2 run, taking a 10-point lead into the locker room (28-18). Marquette outscored Xavier, 36-22, in the second half to pull away for their 13th straight victory in the series history.
• Fernanda Ovalle led the Musketeers with nine points on 4-for-10 shooting. The freshman guard also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out two assists.
• Nila Blackford finished with six points on 3-for-7 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. She added one steal and one block.
• Marquette forced 21 Xavier turnovers, converting the miscues into 22 points. The Golden Eagles also held an 11-8 advantage in fastbreak points. Xavier scored four more points in the paint (26-22) than Marquette.
• Xavier had nine steals in the game, the team's ninth game of the year with nine or more steals.
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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 - 1,000 POINT CLUB |
• Nila Blackford has 1,028 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 11.4 points per game during her career. Blackford is the first Xavier player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark since A'riana Gray (2017-21) who finished her career with 1,155 points.
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NOTABLES |
• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 20th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore. She also ranks fifth in free-throw percentage (.813) and 12th in steals (1.3).
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks tied for 10th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (33). Kaysia Woods ranks second in the team in three pointers made (28), while Taylor Smith ranks third (23). In BIG EAST only games, Kaysia Woods ranks tied for 12th in three pointers made (17).
• In BIG EAST only games, Mackayla Scarlett ranks third in free-throw percentage (.833). Nila Blackford ranks 10th in steals per game (1.7).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging nine or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (9.3) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.3). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.418) and third in rebounding (4.8).
• Fernanda Ovalle leads all BIG EAST freshmen in rebounding (4.8), while ranking second in scoring (9.3). Georgetown's Kennedy Fauntleroy leads all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring (12.6).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 29 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking third in the BIG EAST. The last time Xavier had a player with 29 or more blocks in a season was in 2019-20 (Ayanna Townsend; 32 blocks).
• Xavier ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.329). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks seventh in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.321).
• Xavier also ranks second in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.2) and fifth in steals (8.0). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (25) and assists (55).
• Xavier ranks 108th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.329) and 56th in blocks per game (4.2). Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 62nd in the NCAA in total blocks (29).
• 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 played nine non-conference games (two on the road, seven at home). The Musketeers played 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 played 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 47-12 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 action on Tuesday, Jan. 31 vs Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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