Christie, Musketeers Upend Lakers on Friday Night

Friday, November 15

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

2-1,0-0Big East

Mercyhurst

1-3,0-0NEC

Mercyhurst

Xavier

Christie, Musketeers Upend Lakers on Friday Night

11.15.24 | Women's Basketball

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The forward scored a career-high 18 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds and four blocks

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Loren Christie scored a career-high 18 points on Friday night, leading the Musketeers to a 68-53 win over Mercyhurst at Cintas Center.

Xavier moves to 2-1 on the year, while the Lakers drop to 1-3.

Xavier closes its four-game homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 19 vs Arkansas State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

NOTABLE

The opening quarter was back-and-forth with four leads changes and three ties. The Musketeers led by two points (16-14) after one quarter of action and took a 10-point advantage into the locker room by outscoring the Lakers, 19-11, in the second quarter.
The Musketeers led by as many as 18 points (48-30) with 5:39 left in the third quarter. Mercyhurst closed within six points (48-42) on a Jenna Van Schaik three pointer in the closing seconds on the third frame.
Xavier outscored Mercyhurst, 20-11, in the fourth quarter on 6-for-9 shooting to pull away for the 15-point victory. The Musketeers were also 8-for-11 from the charity stripe in the final frame.
Loren Christie scored a career-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting. She added a game-high eight rebounds and four blocks. Her previous career high was 14 points (three times). The forward now has 16 career double-figure scoring games.
Meri Kanerva scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Daniela López and Aizhanique Mayo both added eight points. López chipped in four steals, while Mayo pulled down five rebounds.
Tae'lor Purvis finished with seven points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Petra Oborilova dished out a game-high six assists to go along with four points and three rebounds.
Júlia Garcia Roig had seven points on 2-for-2 shooting to go along with two steals. Irune Orio finished with six points and three rebounds.
Xavier hit over 50 percent of its shot attempts for the second time in as many games, connecting on 53.1 percent of its shot attempts (26-for-49). The Musketeers were also 16-for-22 from the foul line.
Xavier was 0-for-8 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were held without a three pointer for the first time since Feb. 25, 2023 vs Marquette (0-for-7; L, 58-46).
Xavier had a season-high 13 steals. The Musketeers have had 10 or more steals in all three games this season.
The Musketeers won the battle on the glass, 31-28, and scored 20 more bench points (23-3) than the Lakers. Both teams scored six fastbreak points.
Xavier scored seven more second-chance points (10-3) and held a 26-22 advantage in points off of turnovers. The Musketeers forced 24 Mercyhurst turnovers. The last time Xavier scored 26 or more points off of turnovers was on Nov. 13, 2022 vs Saint Francis (PA) - scored 29 points off of turnovers in a 78-52 win at Cintas Center.
Xavier limited the Lakers to a .380 field-goal percentage (19-for-50) and a 7-for-20 mark from behind the arc.
Xavier has won two straight games for the first time since Nov. 19-22, 2022.