Xavier University Athletics
Friday, December 15
Cincinnati, Ohio
7 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
SIUE
Women's Basketball Returns to Cintas Center on Friday Night vs SIUE
12.12.23 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues non-conference action on Friday, Dec. 15 vs SIUE. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-8) vs SIUE COUGARS (2-8)
Friday, Dec. 15 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/48amwN9
• SIUE was picked to finish seventh in the Preseason Ohio Valley Conference Coaches' Poll after posting a 9-22 (7-11) record last season. KK Rodriguez was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• KK Rodriguez leads the team in scoring (22.0), rebounding (4.9), field goal-percentage (.476) and three-point field-goal percentage (.513). She also lead the team in total assists (33) and total steals (13). Rodriguez leads the OVC in scoring, while ranking 12th in the NCAA.
• The Cougars rank second in the OVC in scoring offense (72.2), while ranking 11th in scoring defense (83.0). SIUE also leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.775), while ranking 30th in the NCAA.
• Xavier leads the all-time series with SIUE, 1-0. The first meeting between the two schools was on Nov. 27, 2022 in Edwardsville, Ill.
• The Musketeers defeated the Cougars, 73-65, inside First Community Arena. Mackayla Scarlett scored 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting, while Taylor Smith chipped in 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Xavier held a 21-8 advantage in second-chance points.
• Xavier is coming off a 69-47 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 10 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
• Kaysia Woods scored a team-high 11 points and knocked down a game-high three 3-pointers. The guard added one rebound, one assist and one block. She now has 11 career double-figure scoring games, including three this season.
• Nila Blackford posted 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. She now has 59 career double-figure scoring games, including five this season.
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game, ranking 18th in the BIG EAST. She has scored in double figures five times this season with two, 20-point performances. The guard ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game (33.4) and 13th in three pointers made (12).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (10.9) and first in rebounding (9.4). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (8), while ranking second in total assists (14) and total steals (10). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.4), while ranking 41st in the NCAA. Blackford also ranks 15th in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.493). She has 59 career double-figure scoring games and 32 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (9.9), while ranking first in three pointers made (19). She ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 54th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (67).
• Kaysia Woods has increased her scoring by 6.8 points per game from her freshman season (2021-22) to her junior season (2023-24). The guard averaged 2.9 points per game as a freshman and 5.8 points per game as a sophomore. She is now averaging 9.9 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 13 steals and 19 assists. She has added 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 32.7 minutes per game, ranking seventh in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier has lost 28 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).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, ranking fourth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game this season. López ranks tied for eighth in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman.
• 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 was on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier is now 5-4 in the last nine meetings vs the Bearcats.
• 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 opens BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (0-8) vs SIUE COUGARS (2-8)
Friday, Dec. 15 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/48amwN9
ABOUT SIUE
• SIUE was picked to finish seventh in the Preseason Ohio Valley Conference Coaches' Poll after posting a 9-22 (7-11) record last season. KK Rodriguez was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• KK Rodriguez leads the team in scoring (22.0), rebounding (4.9), field goal-percentage (.476) and three-point field-goal percentage (.513). She also lead the team in total assists (33) and total steals (13). Rodriguez leads the OVC in scoring, while ranking 12th in the NCAA.
• The Cougars rank second in the OVC in scoring offense (72.2), while ranking 11th in scoring defense (83.0). SIUE also leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.775), while ranking 30th in the NCAA.
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier leads the all-time series with SIUE, 1-0. The first meeting between the two schools was on Nov. 27, 2022 in Edwardsville, Ill.
• The Musketeers defeated the Cougars, 73-65, inside First Community Arena. Mackayla Scarlett scored 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting, while Taylor Smith chipped in 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Xavier held a 21-8 advantage in second-chance points.
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming off a 69-47 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 10 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
• Kaysia Woods scored a team-high 11 points and knocked down a game-high three 3-pointers. The guard added one rebound, one assist and one block. She now has 11 career double-figure scoring games, including three this season.
• Nila Blackford posted 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. She now has 59 career double-figure scoring games, including five this season.
NOTABLE
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game, ranking 18th in the BIG EAST. She has scored in double figures five times this season with two, 20-point performances. The guard ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game (33.4) and 13th in three pointers made (12).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (10.9) and first in rebounding (9.4). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (8), while ranking second in total assists (14) and total steals (10). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.4), while ranking 41st in the NCAA. Blackford also ranks 15th in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.493). She has 59 career double-figure scoring games and 32 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (9.9), while ranking first in three pointers made (19). She ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 54th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (67).
• Kaysia Woods has increased her scoring by 6.8 points per game from her freshman season (2021-22) to her junior season (2023-24). The guard averaged 2.9 points per game as a freshman and 5.8 points per game as a sophomore. She is now averaging 9.9 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 13 steals and 19 assists. She has added 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 32.7 minutes per game, ranking seventh in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier has lost 28 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).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, ranking fourth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game this season. López ranks tied for eighth in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman.
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 was on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier is now 5-4 in the last nine meetings vs the Bearcats.
• 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 opens BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
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