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Xavier University Athletics
Tuesday, January 9
Cincinnati, Ohio
7 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
St. John's
Xavier, St. John's Set for Tuesday Night Matchup
01.08.24 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center
CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball continues BIG EAST action on Tuesday, Jan. 9 vs St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET from Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-11, 0-3) vs ST. JOHN'S RED STORM (9-7, 3-1)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3tJpRnM
• St. John's was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 23-9 (13-7 BIG EAST) record last season and advancing to the NCAA Tournament First Round. Unique Drake also earned preseason all-conference honors.
• Unique Drake was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Jan. 8 for the second time in three weeks. The guard averaged 24.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in wins over No. 19 Marquette and Providence last week. She ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring (20.3) and three pointers made (45).
• St. John's ranks second in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.762) and third in scoring defense (55.2). The Red Storm also rank eighth in scoring offense (59.8) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.421).
• Jillian Archer ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.604), 10th in rebounding (7.3) and 20th in scoring (10.6). She also ranks fourth in blocked shots (1.5).
• Xavier trails the all-time series with St. John's, 18-2. The Musketeers have dropped 16 straight in the series and are 2-7 when playing the Red Storm at Cintas Center.
• Xavier's last win over St. John's was on March 1, 2015 at Cintas Center (W, 74-61).
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS ST. JOHN'S
Feb. 8, 2023 - St. John's 73, Xavier 52 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 8, 2023 - St. John's 71, Xavier 52 (Queens, N.Y.)
March 4, 2022 - St. John's 76, Xavier 69 (Uncasville, Conn.)
Feb. 6, 2022 - St. John's 96, Xavier 62 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Feb. 2, 2022 - St. John's 83, Xavier 63 (Queens, N.Y.)
• Xavier is coming an 81-52 road loss at No. 19 Marquette on Jan. 6. Turnovers proved costly again as the Musketeers had 28 miscues that the Golden Eagles converted into 28 points.
• Daniela López led the Musketeers with a career-high 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. The freshman guard has scored in double figures in back-to-back games. She added one steal and was 3-for-6 from behind the arc.
• Xavier posted a .435 field-goal percentage (20-for-46) and went 7-for-19 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 5-for-8 from the foul line.
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game. She has scored in double figures five times this season with two, 20-point performances. The guard leads the team in made free throws (24) and free-throw percentage (.727).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (9.9) and first in rebounding (8.8). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (11), while ranking second in total assists (19) and total steals (14). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.8), while ranking 66th 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 (9.1), while ranking first in three pointers made (27). She ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 130th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (85).
• 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 9.1 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 19 steals and 36 assists. She has added 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 30.3 minutes per game, ranking 18th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 12th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season. López ranks ninth 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).
• Daniela López is averaging a team-high 11.0 points per game in BIG EAST action with a .500 field-goal percentage (13-for-26). She has added 3.0 rebounds per game.
• Xavier has hit 81.5 percent of its free throws in BIG EAST action, going 22-for-27 from the charity stripe - ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks tied for second in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.400), while ranking fourth in three pointers made per game (8.0).
• 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, Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET from Cintas Center with the game being aired nationally on FS1.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-11, 0-3) vs ST. JOHN'S RED STORM (9-7, 3-1)
Tuesday, Jan. 9 - 7 p.m. ET - Cintas Center (10,224) - Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch Live (FloSports) - flosports.link/3RvqOqo
Live Stats - bit.ly/3tJpRnM
ABOUT ST. JOHN'S
• St. John's was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 23-9 (13-7 BIG EAST) record last season and advancing to the NCAA Tournament First Round. Unique Drake also earned preseason all-conference honors.
• Unique Drake was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Jan. 8 for the second time in three weeks. The guard averaged 24.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in wins over No. 19 Marquette and Providence last week. She ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring (20.3) and three pointers made (45).
• St. John's ranks second in the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage (.762) and third in scoring defense (55.2). The Red Storm also rank eighth in scoring offense (59.8) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.421).
• Jillian Archer ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.604), 10th in rebounding (7.3) and 20th in scoring (10.6). She also ranks fourth in blocked shots (1.5).
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier trails the all-time series with St. John's, 18-2. The Musketeers have dropped 16 straight in the series and are 2-7 when playing the Red Storm at Cintas Center.
• Xavier's last win over St. John's was on March 1, 2015 at Cintas Center (W, 74-61).
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS ST. JOHN'S
Feb. 8, 2023 - St. John's 73, Xavier 52 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 8, 2023 - St. John's 71, Xavier 52 (Queens, N.Y.)
March 4, 2022 - St. John's 76, Xavier 69 (Uncasville, Conn.)
Feb. 6, 2022 - St. John's 96, Xavier 62 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Feb. 2, 2022 - St. John's 83, Xavier 63 (Queens, N.Y.)
LAST TIME OUT
• Xavier is coming an 81-52 road loss at No. 19 Marquette on Jan. 6. Turnovers proved costly again as the Musketeers had 28 miscues that the Golden Eagles converted into 28 points.
• Daniela López led the Musketeers with a career-high 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. The freshman guard has scored in double figures in back-to-back games. She added one steal and was 3-for-6 from behind the arc.
• Xavier posted a .435 field-goal percentage (20-for-46) and went 7-for-19 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 5-for-8 from the foul line.
NOTABLES
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game. She has scored in double figures five times this season with two, 20-point performances. The guard leads the team in made free throws (24) and free-throw percentage (.727).
• Nila Blackford ranks second on the team in scoring (9.9) and first in rebounding (8.8). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (11), while ranking second in total assists (19) and total steals (14). She ranks second in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.8), while ranking 66th 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 (9.1), while ranking first in three pointers made (27). She ranks eighth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game and 130th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (85).
• 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 9.1 points per game and has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 19 steals and 36 assists. She has added 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 30.3 minutes per game, ranking 18th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 12th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season. López ranks ninth 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).
BIG EAST ONLY NOTABLES
• Daniela López is averaging a team-high 11.0 points per game in BIG EAST action with a .500 field-goal percentage (13-for-26). She has added 3.0 rebounds per game.
• Xavier has hit 81.5 percent of its free throws in BIG EAST action, going 22-for-27 from the charity stripe - ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier ranks tied for second in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.400), while ranking fourth in three pointers made per game (8.0).
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 returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 13 vs Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET from Cintas Center with the game being aired nationally on FS1.
Players Mentioned
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