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Xavier University Athletics
Wednesday, December 20
Cincinnati, Ohio
12 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
DePaul
Xavier Opens BIG EAST Play vs DePaul on Wednesday
12.18.23 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball opens BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs DePaul. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-8, 0-0) vs DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS (7-5, 0-0)
Wednesday, Dec. 20 - 12 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/48opdeg
• DePaul was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 16-17 (8-12 BIG EAST) record last season. Graduate student guard Anaya Peoples was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• DePaul ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring offense (79.8), while ranking 33rd in the NCAA. The Blue Demons also lead the conference in steals (10.3), while ranking second in assists (19.3) and third in three pointers (8.4).
• Anaya Peoples ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring (19.7) and fifth in rebounding (8.2). Jorie Allen has added 11.4 points per game to rank 19th in the conference. She also ranks first in free-throw percentage (.938) and sixth in field-goal percentage (.559).
• Xavier trails the all-time series, 25-1. The Musketeers lone victory was on Jan. 23, 1984 in the first meeting between the two schools, 82-72, in Cincinnati.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS DEPAUL
Feb. 4, 2023 - DePaul 93, Xavier 48 (Chicago, Ill.)
Jan. 14, 2023 - DePaul 91, Xavier 56 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 23, 2022 - DePaul 94, Xavier 74 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 5, 2021 - DePaul 103, Xavier 85 (Chicago, Ill.)
Feb. 17, 2021 - DePaul 83, Xavier 75 (Chicago, Ill.)
• Xavier is coming off a 68-43 win over SIUE on Dec. 15. The Musketeers scored a season-high 68 points behind a season-high 28 made field goals (28-for-60). Xavier also posted a season-high .467 field-goal percentage and pulled down a season-high 41 rebounds. Xavier knocked down eight 3-pointers, the second-most threes in a game for the Musketeers this season.
• Aizhanique Mayo led nine Musketeers who scored with 14 points in 22 minutes of action off the bench. The freshman guard was 6-for-11 from the floor with two 3-pointers in her collegiate debut. She added three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Nila Blackford posted her 26th career double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. The forward was 6-for-10 from the floor. She added three steals and a game-high two blocks.
• Júlia Garcia Roig scored a season-high 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting in 19 minutes of action off the bench. The freshman guard added four assists and two rebounds.
• 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 sixth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game (33.4) and 14th in three pointers made (12).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (11.0) and first in rebounding (9.6). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (10), while ranking second in total assists (15) and total steals (13). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.6), while ranking 40th in the NCAA. She has 60 career double-figure scoring games and 33 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (9.7), while ranking first in three pointers made (21). She ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 63rd in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (71).
• 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 9.7 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 17 steals and 25 assists. She has added 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 32.0 minutes per game, ranking 11th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks ninth in steals per game (1.9).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.7 minutes per game, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game this season. López ranks sixth 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 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 60 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 48-15 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 returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Villanova. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Finneran Pavilion.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-8, 0-0) vs DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS (7-5, 0-0)
Wednesday, Dec. 20 - 12 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/48opdeg
ABOUT DEPAUL
• DePaul was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 16-17 (8-12 BIG EAST) record last season. Graduate student guard Anaya Peoples was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• DePaul ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring offense (79.8), while ranking 33rd in the NCAA. The Blue Demons also lead the conference in steals (10.3), while ranking second in assists (19.3) and third in three pointers (8.4).
• Anaya Peoples ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring (19.7) and fifth in rebounding (8.2). Jorie Allen has added 11.4 points per game to rank 19th in the conference. She also ranks first in free-throw percentage (.938) and sixth in field-goal percentage (.559).
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier trails the all-time series, 25-1. The Musketeers lone victory was on Jan. 23, 1984 in the first meeting between the two schools, 82-72, in Cincinnati.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS DEPAUL
Feb. 4, 2023 - DePaul 93, Xavier 48 (Chicago, Ill.)
Jan. 14, 2023 - DePaul 91, Xavier 56 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 23, 2022 - DePaul 94, Xavier 74 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 5, 2021 - DePaul 103, Xavier 85 (Chicago, Ill.)
Feb. 17, 2021 - DePaul 83, Xavier 75 (Chicago, Ill.)
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming off a 68-43 win over SIUE on Dec. 15. The Musketeers scored a season-high 68 points behind a season-high 28 made field goals (28-for-60). Xavier also posted a season-high .467 field-goal percentage and pulled down a season-high 41 rebounds. Xavier knocked down eight 3-pointers, the second-most threes in a game for the Musketeers this season.
• Aizhanique Mayo led nine Musketeers who scored with 14 points in 22 minutes of action off the bench. The freshman guard was 6-for-11 from the floor with two 3-pointers in her collegiate debut. She added three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Nila Blackford posted her 26th career double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. The forward was 6-for-10 from the floor. She added three steals and a game-high two blocks.
• Júlia Garcia Roig scored a season-high 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting in 19 minutes of action off the bench. The freshman guard added four assists and two rebounds.
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 sixth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game (33.4) and 14th in three pointers made (12).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (11.0) and first in rebounding (9.6). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (10), while ranking second in total assists (15) and total steals (13). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (9.6), while ranking 40th in the NCAA. She has 60 career double-figure scoring games and 33 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks third on the team in scoring (9.7), while ranking first in three pointers made (21). She ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 63rd in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (71).
• 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 9.7 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 17 steals and 25 assists. She has added 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 32.0 minutes per game, ranking 11th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks ninth in steals per game (1.9).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.7 minutes per game, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game this season. López ranks sixth 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 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 60 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 48-15 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 returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Villanova. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Finneran Pavilion.
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