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Xavier University Athletics
Wednesday, January 11
Providence, R.I.
11 a.m.
Xavier University
at
Providence
BIG EAST Action Continues at Providence on Wednesday
01.09.23 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. from Alumni Hall
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues BIG EAST action at Providence on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. from Alumni Hall.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-9, 0-7) at PROVIDENCE FRIARS (10-7, 1-5)
Game Info - Wednesday, Jan. 11 - 11 a.m. - Alumni Hall (2,620)
Live Video (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2VUpSzG
2022-23 Record: 10-7 (1-5 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Record: 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 11-7
Last Meeting: Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Feb. 13, 2022 - 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 is 7-2 in home games this season, most recently coming off a 76-60 loss to Seton Hall on Jan. 8. The Friars are 2-2 in their last four games with a road top-25 win (W, 79-75 at No. 25 Creighton).
• Providence ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding margin (+6.0), sixth in scoring defense (61.4) and eighth in scoring offense (64.4). Janai Crooms ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in assists (4.1), eighth in rebounding (7.5) and 17th in scoring (12.4).
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-7, and is 3-2 in the last five meetings. The Musketeers are 4-4 when playing at Providence.
• Mackayla Scarlett averaged 17.5 points per game in the two meetings last season. Shelby Calhoun added 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
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)
Jan. 26, 2020 - Providence 60, Xavier 48 (Providence, R.I.)
• Xavier is coming off a 71-52 loss at No. 24 St. John's on Jan. 8. Xavier only trailed by one point 22-21 with 6:36 left in the first half before the Red Storm closed the frame on a 10-4 run, taking a seven-point lead (32-25) into halftime. The Red Storm outscored Xavier, 24-12, in the third quarter to build a double-figure lead they would never relinquish.
• Mackayla Scarlett led Xavier with 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting, her 23rd career game in double figures. The guard added four rebounds and three assists. She was also 8-for-10 from the foul line.
• Taylor Smith added 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. The guard also had two rebounds and one block.
• Fernanda Ovalle finished with seven points and four rebounds, while Kaysia Woods posted six points and two rebounds. Nila Blackford chipped in five points and a team-high six rebounds.
• Xavier went 19-for-55 from the floor and 4-for-20 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 10-for-16 from the foul line. St. John's won the battle on the glass, 38-32.
• The Red Storm held a 17-3 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored one more second-chance point (7-6). Xavier scored six more points in the paint (24-18) than St. John's.
• 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 1,007 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 11.7 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 15th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (28). Taylor Smith ranks second on the team in three pointers made (23), while Kaysia Woods ranks third (22).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging nine or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (11.2) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.4). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.450) and third in rebounding (5.0).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 24 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking tied for second in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.335). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks fourth in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.294).
• Xavier also ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.4) and fourth in steals (8.3). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (21) and assists (46).
• Xavier ranks 97th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.335) and 41st in blocks per game (4.4). Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 52nd in the NCAA in total blocks (24).
• 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 Saturday, Jan. 14 vs DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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THE MATCHUP AT PROVIDENCE |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-9, 0-7) at PROVIDENCE FRIARS (10-7, 1-5)
Game Info - Wednesday, Jan. 11 - 11 a.m. - Alumni Hall (2,620)
Live Video (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2VUpSzG
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ABOUT THE FRIARS |
2022-23 Record: 10-7 (1-5 BIG EAST)2021-22 Record: 11-19 (6-14 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 11-7
Last Meeting: Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Feb. 13, 2022 - 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 is 7-2 in home games this season, most recently coming off a 76-60 loss to Seton Hall on Jan. 8. The Friars are 2-2 in their last four games with a road top-25 win (W, 79-75 at No. 25 Creighton).
• Providence ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding margin (+6.0), sixth in scoring defense (61.4) and eighth in scoring offense (64.4). Janai Crooms ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in assists (4.1), eighth in rebounding (7.5) and 17th in scoring (12.4).
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SERIES HISTORY |
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-7, and is 3-2 in the last five meetings. The Musketeers are 4-4 when playing at Providence.
• Mackayla Scarlett averaged 17.5 points per game in the two meetings last season. Shelby Calhoun added 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
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)
Jan. 26, 2020 - Providence 60, Xavier 48 (Providence, R.I.)
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier is coming off a 71-52 loss at No. 24 St. John's on Jan. 8. Xavier only trailed by one point 22-21 with 6:36 left in the first half before the Red Storm closed the frame on a 10-4 run, taking a seven-point lead (32-25) into halftime. The Red Storm outscored Xavier, 24-12, in the third quarter to build a double-figure lead they would never relinquish.
• Mackayla Scarlett led Xavier with 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting, her 23rd career game in double figures. The guard added four rebounds and three assists. She was also 8-for-10 from the foul line.
• Taylor Smith added 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. The guard also had two rebounds and one block.
• Fernanda Ovalle finished with seven points and four rebounds, while Kaysia Woods posted six points and two rebounds. Nila Blackford chipped in five points and a team-high six rebounds.
• Xavier went 19-for-55 from the floor and 4-for-20 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 10-for-16 from the foul line. St. John's won the battle on the glass, 38-32.
• The Red Storm held a 17-3 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored one more second-chance point (7-6). Xavier scored six more points in the paint (24-18) than St. John's.
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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 1,007 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 11.7 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 15th in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore.
• Mackayla Scarlett ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made (28). Taylor Smith ranks second on the team in three pointers made (23), while Kaysia Woods ranks third (22).
• Two other Musketeers are averaging nine or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (11.2) and Fernanda Ovalle (9.4). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.450) and third in rebounding (5.0).
• Courtney Prenger is averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 24 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking tied for second in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.335). The Musketeers only hit 26 percent of their three pointers last season (ranking 11th in the BIG EAST). Xavier also ranks fourth in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.294).
• Xavier also ranks third in the BIG EAST in blocks (4.4) and fourth in steals (8.3). Mackayla Scarlett leads Xavier in both steals (21) and assists (46).
• Xavier ranks 97th in the NCAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.335) and 41st in blocks per game (4.4). Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 52nd in the NCAA in total blocks (24).
• 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 Saturday, Jan. 14 vs DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center.
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