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Xavier University Athletics
Friday, December 1
Tempe, Ariz.
6 p.m. ET
Xavier University
vs
Temple
Xavier Travels to Arizona for Briann January Classic
11.30.23 | Women's Basketball
The two-day tournament is being hosted by Arizona State on Dec. 1-2
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues non-conference action at the Briann January Classic on Dec. 1-2. The two-day tournament is being hosted by Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena.
The Musketeers take on Temple on Friday at 6 PM ET and the host Sun Devils on Saturday at 6 PM ET.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-6) vs TEMPLE OWLS (2-4)
Friday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. ET - Desert Financial Arena (14,198) - Tempe, Ariz.
Watch Live (ASU Live Stream) - bit.ly/2UsZawM
Live Stats - bit.ly/4a3JhnB
Live Audio - bit.ly/46C7lLC
Live Audio - The Varsity Network App
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-6) at ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (6-2)
Saturday, Dec. 2 - 6 p.m. ET - Desert Financial Arena (14,198) - Tempe, Ariz.
Watch Live (ASU Live Stream) - bit.ly/2UsZawM
Live Stats - bit.ly/3QV2gba
Live Audio - bit.ly/3T8W3ez
Live Audio - The Varsity Network App
• Temple was picked to finish ninth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Aleah Nelson was named to the preseason all-conference second team.
• The Owls have dropped three straight games after starting the season with a 2-1 record. Temple is 0-2 away from home this season.
• Temple ranks fifth in the AAC in scoring offense (70.1), while ranking 12th in scoring defense (66.8). The Owls also rank third in both three-pointers made per game (6.3) and steals per game (9.8).
• Aleah Nelson leads the team in scoring (10.7), total assists (26), three-pointers made (8) and field-goals made (24). Rayne Tucker and Tiarra East have both added 9.3 points per game. Tucker and Ines Piper lead the team on the glass, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Xavier leads the all-time series with Temple, 14-12. The Musketeers dropped the last meeting between the two schools, 78-65, on Nov. 14, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pa. Xavier is 7-4 in the last 11 meetings vs the Owls.
• Arizona State has won two straight games, most recently a 77-69 win over High Point. The Sun Devils are 4-0 at home this season.
• The Sun Devils were picked to finish 12th in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting an 8-20 (1-17) record a year ago.
• Three players are averaging double figures in Trayanna Crisp (12.1), Jalyn Brown (11.5) and Jaddan Simmons (11.3). Kadidia Toure has added 9.5 points per game and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game.
• Arizona State ranks 12th in the Pac-12 i scoring offense (68.2) and 11th in scoring defense (62.2). The Sun Devils also rank 12th in scoring margin (+6) and 11th in field-goal percentage (.421).
• The series between Arizona State and Xavier is tied, 1-1. The Sun Devils won the first meeting between the two schools, 75-57, on Dec. 21, 2008 in Tempe, Ariz.
• Xavier won the second meeting between the two schools, 59-46, on Nov. 21, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Xavier is coming off a 58-57 overtime loss at Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 27.
• Mackayla Scarlett scored a game-high 22 points on 8-for-21 shooting. She added a career-high eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. The senior guard also made a career and game-high five 3-pointers. She now has two, 20-point games this season.
• Nila Blackford added he second double-double in as many games, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. She added three assists and two steals. The forward now has 25 career double-doubles.
• Mackayla Scarlett has averaged 21.7 points per game in her last three outings on 22-for-54 shooting. She was 11-for-15 from the foul line in those outings. The guard leads the team in scoring (15.7), minutes per game (38.1) and total assists (13). She leads the BIG EAST in minutes per game, while ranking fifth in the NCAA. Scarlett also ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring and tied for eighth in three pointers made per game.
• Nila Blackford leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.0), while ranking 13th in the NCAA. She also leads the team in blocks (7), while ranking second on the team in scoring (11.3), total assists (12) and total steals (8). The forward has averaged 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in her last three outings with a .600 field-goal percentage (15-for-25).
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (8.7), while ranking tied for first in three pointers made (12). She ranks tied for eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made. The guard ranks 50th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (50).
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 11 steals this season to go along with 13 assists. She has added 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 34.1 minutes per game, ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier has lost 26 straight games dating back to the 2022-23 season. A win on Friday would be the Musketeers first win since Dec. 9, 2022 (W, 48-35 vs Cincinnati). It would also be Xavier's first win away from Cintas Center since Nov. 27, 2023 at SIUE (W, 73-65).
• 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 47-15 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 continues non-conference action on Thursday, Dec. 7 vs Oakland. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
The Musketeers take on Temple on Friday at 6 PM ET and the host Sun Devils on Saturday at 6 PM ET.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-6) vs TEMPLE OWLS (2-4)
Friday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. ET - Desert Financial Arena (14,198) - Tempe, Ariz.
Watch Live (ASU Live Stream) - bit.ly/2UsZawM
Live Stats - bit.ly/4a3JhnB
Live Audio - bit.ly/46C7lLC
Live Audio - The Varsity Network App
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-6) at ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (6-2)
Saturday, Dec. 2 - 6 p.m. ET - Desert Financial Arena (14,198) - Tempe, Ariz.
Watch Live (ASU Live Stream) - bit.ly/2UsZawM
Live Stats - bit.ly/3QV2gba
Live Audio - bit.ly/3T8W3ez
Live Audio - The Varsity Network App
ABOUT TEMPLE
• Temple was picked to finish ninth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Aleah Nelson was named to the preseason all-conference second team.
• The Owls have dropped three straight games after starting the season with a 2-1 record. Temple is 0-2 away from home this season.
• Temple ranks fifth in the AAC in scoring offense (70.1), while ranking 12th in scoring defense (66.8). The Owls also rank third in both three-pointers made per game (6.3) and steals per game (9.8).
• Aleah Nelson leads the team in scoring (10.7), total assists (26), three-pointers made (8) and field-goals made (24). Rayne Tucker and Tiarra East have both added 9.3 points per game. Tucker and Ines Piper lead the team on the glass, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier leads the all-time series with Temple, 14-12. The Musketeers dropped the last meeting between the two schools, 78-65, on Nov. 14, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pa. Xavier is 7-4 in the last 11 meetings vs the Owls.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE
• Arizona State has won two straight games, most recently a 77-69 win over High Point. The Sun Devils are 4-0 at home this season.
• The Sun Devils were picked to finish 12th in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting an 8-20 (1-17) record a year ago.
• Three players are averaging double figures in Trayanna Crisp (12.1), Jalyn Brown (11.5) and Jaddan Simmons (11.3). Kadidia Toure has added 9.5 points per game and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game.
• Arizona State ranks 12th in the Pac-12 i scoring offense (68.2) and 11th in scoring defense (62.2). The Sun Devils also rank 12th in scoring margin (+6) and 11th in field-goal percentage (.421).
SERIES HISTORY
• The series between Arizona State and Xavier is tied, 1-1. The Sun Devils won the first meeting between the two schools, 75-57, on Dec. 21, 2008 in Tempe, Ariz.
• Xavier won the second meeting between the two schools, 59-46, on Nov. 21, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming off a 58-57 overtime loss at Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 27.
• Mackayla Scarlett scored a game-high 22 points on 8-for-21 shooting. She added a career-high eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. The senior guard also made a career and game-high five 3-pointers. She now has two, 20-point games this season.
• Nila Blackford added he second double-double in as many games, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. She added three assists and two steals. The forward now has 25 career double-doubles.
NOTABLE
• Mackayla Scarlett has averaged 21.7 points per game in her last three outings on 22-for-54 shooting. She was 11-for-15 from the foul line in those outings. The guard leads the team in scoring (15.7), minutes per game (38.1) and total assists (13). She leads the BIG EAST in minutes per game, while ranking fifth in the NCAA. Scarlett also ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring and tied for eighth in three pointers made per game.
• Nila Blackford leads the BIG EAST in rebounding (11.0), while ranking 13th in the NCAA. She also leads the team in blocks (7), while ranking second on the team in scoring (11.3), total assists (12) and total steals (8). The forward has averaged 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in her last three outings with a .600 field-goal percentage (15-for-25).
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (8.7), while ranking tied for first in three pointers made (12). She ranks tied for eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made. The guard ranks 50th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (50).
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 11 steals this season to go along with 13 assists. She has added 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 34.1 minutes per game, ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier has lost 26 straight games dating back to the 2022-23 season. A win on Friday would be the Musketeers first win since Dec. 9, 2022 (W, 48-35 vs Cincinnati). It would also be Xavier's first win away from Cintas Center since Nov. 27, 2023 at SIUE (W, 73-65).
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 47-15 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 continues non-conference action on Thursday, Dec. 7 vs Oakland. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
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