Xavier University Athletics

Women's Basketball Falls at Creighton on Sunday
02.12.23 | Women's Basketball
Nila Blackford led Xavier with a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting
OMAHA, Neb. - Xavier women's dropped a 73-53 BIG EAST road game at Creighton on Sunday afternoon at D.J. Sokol Arena. The Musketeers fall to 7-18 (0-16 BIG EAST), while the Bluejays improve to 18-6 (12-4 BIG EAST).
Xavier had an early 6-5 lead before the Bluejays closed the frame on a 7-2 run to take a four-point lead (12-8). Creighton went 9-for-13 from the floor in the second quarter with six 3-pointers, outscoring the Musketeers, 24-11, to take a 17-point lead into the locker room (36-19).
The Musketeers opened the second half on an 11-4 run to close within 10 points (40-30), but Creighton scored 15 unanswered points to go ahead, 55-30, with 1:11 left in the third quarter. The Bluejays led by 23 points (57-34) at the end of the third frame.
Xavier outscored Creighton, 19-16, in the final quarter to make the final ledger, 73-53.
• Nila Blackford led the Musketeers with a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, her 54th career double-figure scoring game. The forward also pulled down five rebounds and had two steals.
• Courtney Prenger added 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting, her 13th career game in double figures. The forward added one rebound and one steal.
• Aanaya Harris, Taylor Smith and Kaysia Woods each added six points. Fernanda Ovalle chipped in five points and five rebounds. Harris also dished out a team-high four assists, while Smith added two steals.
• Xavier finished the game with a .467 field-goal percentage (21-for-45), the team's fourth highest percentage of the season. The Musketeers were also 1-for-10 from behind the arc and 10-for-11 from the foul line. Xavier had 15 assists on 21 made baskets, the team's eighth most assists in a game this season.
• Xavier had nine steals, the team's 11th game of the season with nine or more steals. The Musketeers also forced 16 Creighton turnovers, the fourth most turnovers in a game this season by the Bluejays. Creighton entered the game ranked fifth in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (11.6).
• The Musketeers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. ET from Walsh Gymnasium.
Women's Basketball at Creighton by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
Xavier had an early 6-5 lead before the Bluejays closed the frame on a 7-2 run to take a four-point lead (12-8). Creighton went 9-for-13 from the floor in the second quarter with six 3-pointers, outscoring the Musketeers, 24-11, to take a 17-point lead into the locker room (36-19).
The Musketeers opened the second half on an 11-4 run to close within 10 points (40-30), but Creighton scored 15 unanswered points to go ahead, 55-30, with 1:11 left in the third quarter. The Bluejays led by 23 points (57-34) at the end of the third frame.
Xavier outscored Creighton, 19-16, in the final quarter to make the final ledger, 73-53.
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NOTABLES |
• Nila Blackford led the Musketeers with a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, her 54th career double-figure scoring game. The forward also pulled down five rebounds and had two steals.
• Courtney Prenger added 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting, her 13th career game in double figures. The forward added one rebound and one steal.
• Aanaya Harris, Taylor Smith and Kaysia Woods each added six points. Fernanda Ovalle chipped in five points and five rebounds. Harris also dished out a team-high four assists, while Smith added two steals.
• Xavier finished the game with a .467 field-goal percentage (21-for-45), the team's fourth highest percentage of the season. The Musketeers were also 1-for-10 from behind the arc and 10-for-11 from the foul line. Xavier had 15 assists on 21 made baskets, the team's eighth most assists in a game this season.
• Xavier had nine steals, the team's 11th game of the season with nine or more steals. The Musketeers also forced 16 Creighton turnovers, the fourth most turnovers in a game this season by the Bluejays. Creighton entered the game ranked fifth in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (11.6).
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UP NEXT |
• The Musketeers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. ET from Walsh Gymnasium.
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HIGHLIGHTS |
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POSTGAME INTERVIEW |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
Women's Basketball at Creighton by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure
Team Stats
XU
CU
FG%
.467
.551
3FG%
.100
.542
FT%
.909
.600
RB
21
26
TO
17
16
STL
9
12
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers - Meri Kanerva
Sunday, October 12
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Lucía Martínez López
Tuesday, September 23
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Denise Neves
Saturday, September 20
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Payton Richards
Friday, September 19