Kanerva, Purvis Lead Musketeers Over Rams

Sunday, December 22

Berkeley, Calif.

6 p.m. ET

Xavier University

5-7,0-1Big East

Fordham

6-5,0-0Atlantic 10

Xavier

Fordham

12.22.24 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Tae’lor Purvis scored a career-high 19 points on Sunday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

BERKELEY, Calif. - Meri Kanerva and Tae'lor Purvis combined for 36 points on Sunday, leading the Musketeers to a 71-62 win over Fordham at the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational at Haas Pavilion.

The Musketeers improve to 5-7, while the Rams drop to 6-5.

Xavier returns to BIG EAST action on Monday, Dec. 30 at Georgetown. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET from McDonough Arena.

NOTABLE

The first half featured seven lead changes and three ties. The Musketeers led for nearly 10 minutes of action.
Xavier scored seven straight points to open the second quarter, taking its largest lead of the half, 16-10, with 8:47 on the clock. The Musketeers led, 26-25, with 1:22 left in the half before the Rams scored three straight points - taking a 28-26 advantage into the locker room. Meri Kanerva led Xavier with 10 points at the break.
Xavier went 6-for-8 from the floor to open the second half, taking a 43-35 advantage with 3:29 left in the third frame. The Musketeers led by as many as 12 points (50-38) with 38 seconds left in the third quarter before a Fordham three pointer in the closing seconds made the score, 50-41, after 30 minutes of play. Xavier outscored Fordham, 24-13, in the third quarter (season-high for points in a third quarter by Xavier).
The Musketeers never relinquished their lead in the the final quarter. Fordham closed within four points, 62-58, with 38 seconds left in regulation, but the Musketeers made nine free throws down the stretch to pull away for the nine-point win. Xavier went 13-for-16 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
Tae'lor Purvis scored a career-high 19 points on 5-for-8 shooting. She added a team-high seven rebounds to go along with two steals and one assist.
Meri Kanerva matched her career high in scoring with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting. The freshman guard added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Aizhanique Mayo added 11 points in 31 minutes of action off the bench.
Loren Christie finished with 10 points and four rebounds. The senior forward was 8-for-10 from the foul line.
Petra Oborilova posted eight points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Xavier had four players score in double figures for the second time this season (also had four double-figure scorers vs Miami University on Nov. 10; W, 71-66).
Xavier posted a .475 field-goal percentage (19-for-40) and went 8-for-18 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 25-for-32 from the foul line. The 25 made free throws are a season high.
The last time Xavier made 25 free throws in a game was on Feb. 13, 2022 at Providence (W, 62-60).
Xavier limited the Rams to a season-low .320 field-goal percentage (24-for-75). Fordham was also 8-for-25 from three-point range and 6-for-11 from the foul line.
Fordham won the battle on the glass, 49-29, and held a 19-0 advantage in second-chance points. The Rams also scored one more point off of turnovers (21-20) and held a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Xavier scored a season-high 18 fastbreak points and held a 13-10 advantage in bench points over the Rams.
All told, the game featured six ties and 10 lead changes. The Musketeers led for nearly 27 minutes of action.
The win snapped Xavier's 27 road-game losing streak. Before Sunday's win, the Musketeers last win away from Cintas Center was on Nov. 27, 2022 at SIUE (W, 73-65).