Xavier Closes Regular-Season Action at No. 9 UConn

Monday, February 27

Storrs, Conn.

7 p.m. ET

Xavier University

UConn

Xavier Closes Regular-Season Action at No. 9 UConn

02.26.23 | Women's Basketball

Live Stats Watch Live XU Notes (PDF)UConn Preview

Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Gampel Pavilion

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball closes out regular-season action at No. 9 UConn on Monday, Feb. 27. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET from Gampel Pavilion with the game being aired nationally on CBS Sports Network.

THE MATCHUP AT UCONN

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (7-21, 0-19) at No. 4 UCONN HUSKIES (25-5, 17-2)
Game Info - Monday, Feb. 27 - 7 p.m. ET - Gampel Pavilion (10,167)
Live Video (CBS Sports Network) - bit.ly/41rPBB6
Live Stats - bit.ly/3r77VgN

ABOUT THE HUSKIES

2022-23 Record: 25-5 (17-2 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Record: 30-6 (16-1 BIG EAST)
2021-22 Postseason: NCAA Runner-Up
Series History: Xavier trails, 6-0
Last Meeting: UConn 73, Xavier 37 (Jan. 5, 2023 - Cincinnati, Ohio)

NOTABLES
• UConn was picked to finish first in the Preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll after posting a 30-6 (16-1 BIG EAST) record last season. The Huskies advance to the NCAA Championship Game, falling to South Carolina, 64-49.
• UConn ranks third in the NCAA in field-goal percentage (.498), fifth in assists (18.9) and ninth in rebounding margin (+10.3). The Huskies also rank ninth in three-point field-goal percentage (.382) and 14th in scoring margin (+16.8).
• Nika Muhl ranks second in the NCAA in assists (7.9) and 35th in assist/turnover ratio (2.25). Five players are averaging 13 or more points per game, paced by Aaliyah Edwards (16.2). Three players are averaging 6.9 rebounds or more per game, paced by Dorka Juhasz (10.0).

SERIES HISTORY

• UConn leads the all-time series with the Musketeers, 6-0. The Huskies won the last meeting between the two schools, 73-37, at Cintas Center.

• The Huskies also won the first meeting in program history, 86-84, on March 14, 1999 inside Gampel Pavilion. The meeting was in the NCAA Midwest Second Round with the Musketeers as the No. 8 seed, and the Huskies as the No. 1 seed.

SERIES HISTORY VS UCONN
Jan. 5, 2023 - UConn 73, Xavier 37 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Feb. 18, 2022 - UConn 89, Xavier 35 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 15, 2022 - UConn 78, Xavier 41 (Hartford, Conn.)
Feb. 20, 2021 - UConn 83, Xavier 32 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 19, 2020 - UConn 106, Xavier 59 (Storrs, Conn.)

XU VS THE TOP-25

• The Musketeers are 11-54 all-time against teams ranked in the top-25. The last time Xavier played a top-25 team was on Jan. 17, 2023 (L, 76-38 at No. 22 Villanova).

• The Musketeers last win over a top-25 team was on Nov. 26, 2009 over No. 18 Kansas, 76-71, at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas.

LAST TIME OUT VS UCONN

• Xavier dropped the first meeting between the two schools, 73-37, on Jan. 5 at Cintas Center. UConn jumped out to an early 12-2 lead and led by as many as 41 points (67-26) with 7:56 left in regulation. The Huskies limited Xavier to a season-low 37 points and .215 field-goal percentage (14-for-65).

• Taylor Smith led the team in scoring with 13 points, while Nila Blackford posted four points and a team-high eight rebounds. Blackford also eclipsed 1,000-career points in the contest.

• Xavier forced 22 UConn turnovers, tied for the fourth most in game this season by the Huskies.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a 58-46 loss to Marquette on Feb. 25 in the team's home finale. Marquette led from start to finish and led by as many as 15 points (33-18) with 8:42 left in the third quarter. Xavier battled back to get within single digits nine times and as late as the 2:27 mark in the fourth quarter (54-46). The Golden Eagles held Xavier scoreless for the remainder of the game, using a 4-0 to close the contest.

• Mackayla Scarlett and Kaysia Woods led the Musketeers in scoring with eight points each. Scarlett also dished out a team-high six assists, while Fernanda Ovalle pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Courtney Prenger also posted a career-high six steals.

• Xavier forced 22 turnovers, the most turnovers in a BIG EAST game this season for the Golden Eagles. The Musketeers had 13 steals, the second most steals in a game this season for Xavier. The Musketeers have posted 10 or more steals in a game nine times this season.

• Xavier was held without a three pointer (0-for-7) for the first time this season. The last time the Musketeers did not make a three pointer was on Nov. 27, 2021 at Eastern Kentucky.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• Xavier has had two players earn Freshman of the Week honors this season, most recently Fernanda Ovalle on Nov. 28.

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOREES
Nov. 14 - Kaleigh Addie - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 21 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week
Nov. 28 - Fernanda Ovalle - Freshman of the Week

BLACKFORD - 1,000 POINT CLUB

• Nila Blackford has 1,100 career points over four seasons of basketball (was at Kent State from 2019-22 before transferring to Xavier in the offseason). She has averaged 11.2 points per game during her career. Blackford is the first Xavier player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark since A'riana Gray (2017-21) who finished her career with 1,155 points.

XU BLOCK RECORDS

• Xavier has 101 blocks this season, ranking seventh in single-season school history. The 101 blocks also rank fifth in the BIG EAST this season, while ranking 97th in the NCAA.

• Individually, Courtney Prenger ranks 101st in the NCAA in total blocks (36). She is three blocks away from moving into 10th in Xavier single-season school history (10th - Terri Coughman - 39 blocks during the 1986-87 season).

ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM CAMPAIGN

• Fernanda Ovalle leads all BIG EAST freshmen in rebounding (4.5), while ranking second in scoring (8.5). She also ranks second in total blocks (10), third in total assists (43), fourth in total steals (18) and fifth in field-goal percentage (.431).

NOTABLES

• Junior guard Mackayla Scarlett ranks 23rd in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game. She averaged 0.6 points per game as a freshman and 8.1 points per game as a sophomore. She also ranks sixth in free-throw percentage (.831).

• In BIG EAST only games, Mackayla Scarlett ranks third in free-throw percentage (.851). Nila Blackford ranks ninth in steals per game (1.6) and 17th in rebounding (5.5).

• Two other Musketeers are averaging seven or more points per game in newcomers Taylor Smith (7.8) and Fernanda Ovalle (8.5). Ovalle also ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (.431) and third rebounding (4.5).

• Courtney Prenger is averaging 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward averaged 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season. She also has 36 blocks this season to lead the Musketeers, while ranking fourth in the BIG EAST.

• Xavier ranks tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in steals (8.2). Nila Blackford and Courtney Prenger lead the team in steals (31).

• Fernanda Ovalle (20 points) and Mackayla Scarlett (21 points) both set career highs in scoring at SIUE on Nov. 27. It marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2020 that Xavier had two players score 20 or more points in a game (A'riana Gray and Aaliyah Dunham each scored 20 points at Georgetown).

• Xavier defeated Cincinnati, 48-35, on Dec. 9 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. The 35 points are the fewest allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 17, 2018 vs Fairfield (W, 48-35). The .179 field-goal percentage is the lowest field-goal percentage allowed by a Xavier team since Nov. 25, 2015 (held Southeastern Louisiana to a .190 field-goal percentage on 11-for-58 shooting).

• Xavier dished out 30 assists on 33 made baskets (33-for-70) vs McNeese State, the most by a BIG EAST team this season and tied for the 10th most in a game this season in the NCAA. The 30 assists rank tied for second in single-game school history. The last time Xavier had 30 assists in a game was on Dec. 8, 1999 vs Charlotte.

• Xavier opened its season with an 87-68 win at Miami (Ohio). The 87 points are the most in a game for Xavier since Dec. 18, 2018 vs Alabama State (W, 87-58).

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• Aanaya Harris returns for her sophomore season after posting 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She added 52 assists, 23 steals and eight blocks.

• Aanaya Harris added a .463 field-goal percentage, ranking second among BIG EAST freshmen and 14th overall. Her 9.2 points per game also ranked third among conference freshmen.

• Senior Shaila Beeler led the team in assists (117) and steals (34) last season, while adding 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The guard ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.805) and fifth in assists (4.0).

• Xavier also welcomes five newcomers: Taylor Smith (missed 2021-22 season with an injury), Nila Blackford (transfer from Kent State), Fernanda Ovalle, Bella Ward and June Ruiz Azkue.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• The Musketeers played five of their first six BIG EAST games at Cintas Center. Xavier opened its conference schedule on Black Friday vs Creighton who advanced to the 2022 NCAA Elite Eight.

• Xavier will play four games on national television: at Georgetown on Dec. 4 (FS1), vs Villanova on Jan. 1 (CBS Sports Network), vs UConn on Jan. 5 (SNY) and at UConn on Feb. 27 (CBS Sports Network).

• The BIG EAST Tournament will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for the third straight season. The tournament will be held on March 3-6.

• Xavier played nine non-conference games (two on the road, seven at home). The Musketeers played teams from seven different conferences (MAC, Horizon, NEC, Sun Belt, Southland, OVC, AAC). Xavier played three teams for the first time in program history (Old Dominion, SIUE, Eastern Michigan).

• Xavier played seven non-conference home games, the most non-conference home games for the Musketeers since 2018-19 (nine games).

• The Musketeers have won 59 non-conference games over the last seven seasons with a 47-12 mark at Cintas Center.

XU 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.

BIG EAST COACHES' POLL

1.	UConn (10)	100
2.	Creighton	89
3.	Villanova (1)	83
T-4.	DePaul	68
T-4.	Seton Hall	68
6.	Marquette	56
7.	St. John's	47
8.	Providence	34
T-9.	Butler	21
T-9.	Georgetown	21
11.	Xavier	18

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers open BIG EAST Tournament play vs No. 6 seed Seton Hall on Friday, March 3. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with the game being aired nationally on SNY.