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Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, November 18
Cincinnati, Ohio
2 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Bowling Green
Women's Basketball Plays Host to Bowling Green on Saturday
11.17.23 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues non-conference action on Saturday, Nov. 18 vs Bowling Green. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
The Musketeers are playing the first of three straight games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-3) vs BOWLING GREEN (1-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3FoMvmH
• Bowling Green is led by first-year head coach Fred Chmiel. The Falcons were picked to finish fourth in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 31-7 (14-4) record last season.
• Senior Lexi Fleming was named to the All-MAC Preseason Second Team. The guard is averaging 12.5 points per game this season and has made a team-high six 3-pointers.
• Three other Falcons are averaging double figurs in Amy Velasco (15.0), Paige Kohler (12.5) and Erika Porter (11.0). Taya Ellis leads the team on the glass, averaging 7.5 points per game.
• Bowling Green is 1-1 on the year with a home win vs Cleveland State (W, 89-86) and a road loss at Texas State (L, 74-48).
• Xavier and Bowling Green are meeting for the first time since Nov. 29, 2018. The Musketeers won that meeting, 65-49, at Cintas Center.
• Xavier leads the all-time series vs the Falcons, 4-3, and has a 3-0 record in home games in the series.
• Xavier is coming off an 55-43 road loss at Old Dominion on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
• Nila Blackford scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds. She now has 56 career games with double-figure rebounds.
• Mackayla Scarlett scored 10 points, her second straight game in double figures. She was 7-for-10 from the foul line and dished out a game-high four assists.
• Kaysia Woods leads the Musketeers in scoring with 10.7 points per game. She has made a team-leading eight 3-pointers this year, ranking sixth in the BIG EAST.
• Nila Blackford has added 9.7 points and a BIG EAST leading 10.7 rebounds per game. She ranks 35th in the NCAA in rebounding.
• Tae'lor Purvis is averaging 37.7 minutes per game, leading the BIG EAST in the category. The guard is averaging 6.7 points per game and has a team-high six steals (tied for 12th in the BIG EAST).
• The Musketeers opened the regular season on the road for the fourth consecutive year, traveling to Youngstown State on Nov. 8. The Musketeers and Penguins are played each other for the first time since 2004.
• Xavier's home opener was on Saturday, Nov. 11 vs James Madison. It marked the first meeting between the two programs. All told, the Musketeers will play five home games at Cintas Center during non-conference action. Xavier will play six games on the road, including a trip to the Arizona State Tournament on Dec. 1-2.
• The annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout is set for Sunday, Dec. 10 at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier won the meeting last season, 48-35, at Cintas Center on Dec. 9.
• Xavier will play teams from seven different leagues during non-conference action: Mid-American (3), Horizon (2), Sun Belt (2), American, Pac-12, Big 12 and Ohio Valley. The Musketeers non-conference opponents combined to post a 181-166 record last year with three postseason appearances.
• Xavier plays an 18-game BIG EAST schedule beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs DePaul. The Musketeers will only play UConn (Feb. 14) and Villanova (Dec. 30) once during the 2023-24 season.
• The 2024 BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on March 8-11. FOX Sports will air the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games.
• Xavier will play three nationally televised games: Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall (FS1), Feb. 14 vs UConn (SNY) and Feb. 21 at Butler (FS2).
• The Musketeers have won 59 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 47-13 mark at Cintas Center.
Saturday, Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall - 4 PM - FS1
Wednesday, Feb. 14 vs UConn - 7 PM - SNY
Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Butler - 6:30 PM - FS2
• Xavier is under the direction of first-year head coach Billi Chambers. She joined the Musketeers after spending 10 seasons at Iona University (2013-23). She led the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament twice (2015-16, 2022-23), captured two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Regular-Season Championships (2013-14, 2022-23) and won two MAAC Tournament Championships (2015-16, 2022-23). The conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances were program firsts.
• The two-time MAAC Coach of the Year led the Gaels to a 26-7 (18-2 MAAC) record in 2022-23 and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Three players earned All-MAAC honors, highlighted by Juana Camilion who was named the MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• Xavier returns three of its top five scorers from a year ago in Mackayla Scarlett (10.9), Taylor Smith (7.5) and Nila Blackford (6.3). Blackford also led the team in rebounding (5.5).
• The Musketeers also return Shelby Calhoun. The guard led the team in total assists (67), while ranking second in rebounding (4.6) and eighth in scoring (4.2).
1. UConn (10) - 100
2. Creighton (1) - 90
3. Marquette - 79
4. Villanova - 76
5. Seton Hall - 58
6. St. John's - 52
7. DePaul - 49
8. Butler - 37
9. Providence - 32
10. Georgetown - 20
11. Xavier - 12
• 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.
• Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase at GoXavier.com/Tickets or by calling the Xavier Ticket Office at (513) 745-3411 x. 7.
• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 21 vs Kent State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
The Musketeers are playing the first of three straight games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-3) vs BOWLING GREEN (1-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3FoMvmH
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN
• Bowling Green is led by first-year head coach Fred Chmiel. The Falcons were picked to finish fourth in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 31-7 (14-4) record last season.
• Senior Lexi Fleming was named to the All-MAC Preseason Second Team. The guard is averaging 12.5 points per game this season and has made a team-high six 3-pointers.
• Three other Falcons are averaging double figurs in Amy Velasco (15.0), Paige Kohler (12.5) and Erika Porter (11.0). Taya Ellis leads the team on the glass, averaging 7.5 points per game.
• Bowling Green is 1-1 on the year with a home win vs Cleveland State (W, 89-86) and a road loss at Texas State (L, 74-48).
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier and Bowling Green are meeting for the first time since Nov. 29, 2018. The Musketeers won that meeting, 65-49, at Cintas Center.
• Xavier leads the all-time series vs the Falcons, 4-3, and has a 3-0 record in home games in the series.
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming off an 55-43 road loss at Old Dominion on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
• Nila Blackford scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds. She now has 56 career games with double-figure rebounds.
• Mackayla Scarlett scored 10 points, her second straight game in double figures. She was 7-for-10 from the foul line and dished out a game-high four assists.
NOTABLE
• Kaysia Woods leads the Musketeers in scoring with 10.7 points per game. She has made a team-leading eight 3-pointers this year, ranking sixth in the BIG EAST.
• Nila Blackford has added 9.7 points and a BIG EAST leading 10.7 rebounds per game. She ranks 35th in the NCAA in rebounding.
• Tae'lor Purvis is averaging 37.7 minutes per game, leading the BIG EAST in the category. The guard is averaging 6.7 points per game and has a team-high six steals (tied for 12th in the BIG EAST).
SCHEDULE NOTES
• The Musketeers opened the regular season on the road for the fourth consecutive year, traveling to Youngstown State on Nov. 8. The Musketeers and Penguins are played each other for the first time since 2004.
• Xavier's home opener was on Saturday, Nov. 11 vs James Madison. It marked the first meeting between the two programs. All told, the Musketeers will play five home games at Cintas Center during non-conference action. Xavier will play six games on the road, including a trip to the Arizona State Tournament on Dec. 1-2.
• The annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout is set for Sunday, Dec. 10 at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier won the meeting last season, 48-35, at Cintas Center on Dec. 9.
• Xavier will play teams from seven different leagues during non-conference action: Mid-American (3), Horizon (2), Sun Belt (2), American, Pac-12, Big 12 and Ohio Valley. The Musketeers non-conference opponents combined to post a 181-166 record last year with three postseason appearances.
• Xavier plays an 18-game BIG EAST schedule beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs DePaul. The Musketeers will only play UConn (Feb. 14) and Villanova (Dec. 30) once during the 2023-24 season.
• The 2024 BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on March 8-11. FOX Sports will air the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games.
• Xavier will play three nationally televised games: Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall (FS1), Feb. 14 vs UConn (SNY) and Feb. 21 at Butler (FS2).
• The Musketeers have won 59 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 47-13 mark at Cintas Center.
NATIONAL TV GAMES
Saturday, Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall - 4 PM - FS1
Wednesday, Feb. 14 vs UConn - 7 PM - SNY
Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Butler - 6:30 PM - FS2
ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS
• Xavier is under the direction of first-year head coach Billi Chambers. She joined the Musketeers after spending 10 seasons at Iona University (2013-23). She led the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament twice (2015-16, 2022-23), captured two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Regular-Season Championships (2013-14, 2022-23) and won two MAAC Tournament Championships (2015-16, 2022-23). The conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances were program firsts.
• The two-time MAAC Coach of the Year led the Gaels to a 26-7 (18-2 MAAC) record in 2022-23 and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Three players earned All-MAAC honors, highlighted by Juana Camilion who was named the MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• Xavier returns three of its top five scorers from a year ago in Mackayla Scarlett (10.9), Taylor Smith (7.5) and Nila Blackford (6.3). Blackford also led the team in rebounding (5.5).
• The Musketeers also return Shelby Calhoun. The guard led the team in total assists (67), while ranking second in rebounding (4.6) and eighth in scoring (4.2).
BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL
1. UConn (10) - 100
2. Creighton (1) - 90
3. Marquette - 79
4. Villanova - 76
5. Seton Hall - 58
6. St. John's - 52
7. DePaul - 49
8. Butler - 37
9. Providence - 32
10. Georgetown - 20
11. Xavier - 12
XAVIER 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.
TICKET INFORMATION
• Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase at GoXavier.com/Tickets or by calling the Xavier Ticket Office at (513) 745-3411 x. 7.
UP NEXT
• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 21 vs Kent State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
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