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Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, January 27
Cincinnati, Ohio
2 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Providence
Xavier, Providence Set for Saturday Matinee
01.26.24 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues its homestand on Saturday, Jan. 27 vs Providence. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-16, 0-8) vs PROVIDENCE FRIARS (10-11, 4-4)
Saturday, Jan. 27 - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3UjCIIb
• Providence was picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Friars posted a 13-19 (4-16 BIG EAST) record last season. Providence is led by first-year head coach Erin Batth.
• The Friars have won two straight games, most recently an 82-76 overtime victory vs Villanova on Jan. 24. Providence is 3-5 in road games this season.
• Providence leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.282), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.0) and rebounding margin (+6.2). The Friars also rank third in field-goal percentage defense (.396), while ranking 46th in the NCAA.
• In BIG EAST only games, four players are averaging 11 or more points per game - paced by Grace Efosa who is averaging 16.4 points per game with a .522 field-goal percentage. Olivia Olsen has added 13.6 points per game and a team-high 11.1 rebounds per game.
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-9, and is 2-4 in the last six meetings. The Musketeers are 7-3 when playing the Friars at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
Jan. 28, 2023 - Providence 50, Xavier 48 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Providence, R.I.)
Feb. 13, 2022 - Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Providence, R.I.)
Jan. 11, 2022 - Providence 54, Xavier 49 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 31, 2020 - Xavier 64, Providence 50 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Xavier is coming off a 90-57 loss to Butler on Jan. 24 at Cintas Center. Butler finished the game with a season-high .623 field-goal percentage (33-for-53) to go along with 13 three pointers.
• Mackayla Scarlett led four Musketeers in double figures, scoring 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Xavier had four players in double figures for the first time this season.
• Xavier recorded a season-high 12 steals and forced 20 Butler turnovers. The Musketeers held a 19-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
• Tae'lor Purvis (12), Aizhanique Mayo (11) and Nila Blackford (10) rounded out the double-figure scorers. Purvis added six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.0 points per game. She has scored in double figures seven times this season with three, 20-point performances. The guard leads the team in made free throws (33) and free-throw percentage (.733).
• Nila Blackford ranks third on the team in scoring (8.5) and first in rebounding (8.5). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (14), while ranking second in total assists (23) and total steals (19). She ranks third in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.5), while ranking 75th in the NCAA. She has 61 career double-figure scoring games and 34 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks fourth on the team in scoring (7.5), while ranking first in three pointers made (28). She ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game, while ranking 196th in the NCAA. Woods has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 27 steals and 49 assists. She has added 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 30.1 minutes per game, ranking 21st in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 13th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 31.4 minutes per game, ranking 14th in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season. López ranks 12th in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman.
• Xavier was a perfect 11-for-11 from the foul line with five different Musketeers knocking down a free throw on Dec. 30 at Villanova. The last time the Musketeers were perfect from the charity stripe (minimum 10 made free throws) was on Dec. 22, 2018 vs New Orleans (10-for-10).
• Six different Musketeers have led the team in scoring this season, paced by Mackayla Scarlett who has led the team in scoring six times. Four Musketeers are averaging 7.5 or more points per game this year.
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 37.9 percent of the team's 3,425 minutes this season. The Musketeer freshmen have played 1,298 minutes this season.
• Mackayla Scarlett is the team's lone double-figure scorer in BIG EAST games, averaging 12.3 points per game. Aizhanique Mayo has added 8.8 points per game, while Daniela López has chipped in 7.1 points per game and a team-high 13 three-pointers.
• Nila Blackford has chipped in a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with 5.8 points per game. The forward ranks seventh in the conference in rebounding.
• Xavier ranks fourth in three pointers made per game (6.9), fifth in three-point field-goal percentage (.346) and sixth in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.332).
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 46.9 percent of the team's 1,600 minutes through seven conference games. The Musketeer freshmen have played 751 minutes in those contests.
• 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 travels to St. John's on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Carnesecca Arena.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-16, 0-8) vs PROVIDENCE FRIARS (10-11, 4-4)
Saturday, Jan. 27 - 2 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (BEDN/FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3UjCIIb
ABOUT PROVIDENCE
• Providence was picked to finish ninth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Friars posted a 13-19 (4-16 BIG EAST) record last season. Providence is led by first-year head coach Erin Batth.
• The Friars have won two straight games, most recently an 82-76 overtime victory vs Villanova on Jan. 24. Providence is 3-5 in road games this season.
• Providence leads the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.282), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.0) and rebounding margin (+6.2). The Friars also rank third in field-goal percentage defense (.396), while ranking 46th in the NCAA.
• In BIG EAST only games, four players are averaging 11 or more points per game - paced by Grace Efosa who is averaging 16.4 points per game with a .522 field-goal percentage. Olivia Olsen has added 13.6 points per game and a team-high 11.1 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier leads the all-time series with the Friars, 11-9, and is 2-4 in the last six meetings. The Musketeers are 7-3 when playing the Friars at Cintas Center.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS PROVIDENCE
Jan. 28, 2023 - Providence 50, Xavier 48 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 11, 2023 - Providence 64, Xavier 50 (Providence, R.I.)
Feb. 13, 2022 - Xavier 62, Providence 60 (Providence, R.I.)
Jan. 11, 2022 - Providence 54, Xavier 49 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 31, 2020 - Xavier 64, Providence 50 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming off a 90-57 loss to Butler on Jan. 24 at Cintas Center. Butler finished the game with a season-high .623 field-goal percentage (33-for-53) to go along with 13 three pointers.
• Mackayla Scarlett led four Musketeers in double figures, scoring 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Xavier had four players in double figures for the first time this season.
• Xavier recorded a season-high 12 steals and forced 20 Butler turnovers. The Musketeers held a 19-12 advantage in points off of turnovers.
• Tae'lor Purvis (12), Aizhanique Mayo (11) and Nila Blackford (10) rounded out the double-figure scorers. Purvis added six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
NOTABLES
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.0 points per game. She has scored in double figures seven times this season with three, 20-point performances. The guard leads the team in made free throws (33) and free-throw percentage (.733).
• Nila Blackford ranks third on the team in scoring (8.5) and first in rebounding (8.5). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (14), while ranking second in total assists (23) and total steals (19). She ranks third in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.5), while ranking 75th in the NCAA. She has 61 career double-figure scoring games and 34 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Kaysia Woods ranks fourth on the team in scoring (7.5), while ranking first in three pointers made (28). She ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game, while ranking 196th in the NCAA. Woods has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 27 steals and 49 assists. She has added 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 30.1 minutes per game, ranking 21st in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 13th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 31.4 minutes per game, ranking 14th in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season. López ranks 12th in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman.
• Xavier was a perfect 11-for-11 from the foul line with five different Musketeers knocking down a free throw on Dec. 30 at Villanova. The last time the Musketeers were perfect from the charity stripe (minimum 10 made free throws) was on Dec. 22, 2018 vs New Orleans (10-for-10).
• Six different Musketeers have led the team in scoring this season, paced by Mackayla Scarlett who has led the team in scoring six times. Four Musketeers are averaging 7.5 or more points per game this year.
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 37.9 percent of the team's 3,425 minutes this season. The Musketeer freshmen have played 1,298 minutes this season.
BIG EAST ONLY NOTABLES
• Mackayla Scarlett is the team's lone double-figure scorer in BIG EAST games, averaging 12.3 points per game. Aizhanique Mayo has added 8.8 points per game, while Daniela López has chipped in 7.1 points per game and a team-high 13 three-pointers.
• Nila Blackford has chipped in a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with 5.8 points per game. The forward ranks seventh in the conference in rebounding.
• Xavier ranks fourth in three pointers made per game (6.9), fifth in three-point field-goal percentage (.346) and sixth in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.332).
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 46.9 percent of the team's 1,600 minutes through seven conference games. The Musketeer freshmen have played 751 minutes in those contests.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• 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 travels to St. John's on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Carnesecca Arena.
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