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Friday, March 8
Uncasville, Conn.
4 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
No. 6 seed Georgetown
Xavier Opens BIG EAST Tournament Action vs Georgetown
03.06.24 | Women's Basketball
Hoyas, Musketeers tip-off at 4 p.m. on Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena
CINCINNATI - No. 11 seed Xavier takes on No. 6 seed Georgetown in the first round of the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 8. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The two teams are playing each other for the second time in as many games. The Hoyas defeated Xavier, 66-46, on March 2 at Cintas Center.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-26) vs GEORGETOWN HOYAS (19-10)
Friday, March 8 - 4 p.m. ET - Mohegan Sun Arena (10,000) - Uncasville, Conn.
Watch Live - flosports.link/3SbYMUc
Live Stats - bit.ly/48IVxYP
• Georgetown was picked to finish 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 14-17 (6-14 BIG EAST) record last year. Kelsey Ransom was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• The Hoyas have won three straight games and are 10-5 in road games this season.
• Georgetown leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense (54.9), while ranking 13th in the NCAA. The Hoyas also rank second in field-goal percentage defense (.373), while ranking 38th in the NCAA. Georgetown also ranks second in the conference in blocks (4.0), and third in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.294).
• Kelsey Ransom ranks 14th in the BIG EAST in scoring (13.9), while ranking fifth in assists (4.2) and steals (2.2). Graceann Bennett ranks 25th in the conference in scoring (9.5), while ranking 10th in rebounding (7.2) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.509).
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Georgetown, 14-10. The Musketeers have dropped five straight in the series.
• Xavier is 1-1 when playing the Hoyas in the BIG EAST Tournament.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS GEORGETOWN
March 2, 2024 - Georgetown 66, Xavier 46 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 20, 2024 - Georgetown 77, Xavier 49 (Washington, D.C.)
Jan. 31, 2023 - Georgetown 44, Xavier 41 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 4, 2022 - Georgetown 74, Xavier 52 (Washington, D.C.)
Feb. 25, 2022 - Georgetown 54, Xavier 40 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Xavier averaged 47.5 points per game with a .347 field-goal percentage in the two games vs the Hoyas this season. Georgetown averaged 71.5 points per game with a .469 field-goal percentage.
• Mackayla Scarlett averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in the two meetings. Nila Blackford averaged 9.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game with a .615 field-goal percentage (8-for-13).
• Aizhanique Mayo added 8.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, while Aanaya Harris chipped in 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
• Xavier is 1-10 all-time in BIG EAST Tournament action. The Musketeers lone BIG EAST Tournament win was over Georgetown, 70-67, on March 7, 2015.
• Since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the Musketeers have never been higher than the No. 7 seed (twice). Xavier has been the No. 10 seed four times, the No. 9 and No. 11 seeds twice and the No. 8 seed once.
• The No. 11 seed is 7-20 all-time in BIG EAST Tournament action (0-3 record when No. 6 vs No. 11 in the first round for 2021-present bracket format; 3-4 record when No. 11 vs No. 14 in the first round for 2008-13 bracket format; 4-13 record when No. 6 vs No. 11 in the first round for the 1996-2008 bracket format).
• All told, Xavier is 36-29 in conference tournament history. The Musketeers posted a 28-12 record in Atlantic 10 Tournament action (1996-2013) with six championships.
• Xavier and Georgetown are meeting for the third time in the BIG EAST Tournament.
XAVIER VS GEORGETOWN - BIG EAST TOURNAMENT RESULTS
2015 - No. 7 seed Xavier 70, No. 10 seed Georgetown 67
2014 - No. 8 seed Georgetown 56, No. 9 seed Xavier 37
March 8 – First Round
Game 1: 8 seed Butler vs. 9 seed Providence, 11 a.m. (BEDN)
Game 2: 7 seed Seton Hall vs. 10 seed DePaul, 1:30 p.m. (BEDN)
Game 3: 6 seed Georgetown vs. 11 seed Xavier, 4 p.m. (BEDN)
March 9 – Quarterfinals
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. 1 seed UConn, Noon (FS1)
Game 5: 4 seed Villanova vs. 5 seed Marquette, 2:30 p.m. (FS2)
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. 2 seed Creighton, 7 p.m. (FS2)
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. 3 seed St. John's, 9:30 p.m. (FS2)
March 10 – Semifinals
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m. (FS1)
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 5 p.m. (FS1)
March 11 - Final
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs Game 9 winner, 7 p.m. (FS1)
• Aizhanique Mayo was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team on March 7. The Bridgeport, Conn., native ranks second on the team in scoring (10.0) and total three pointers made (34). She also ranks first in three-point field-goal percentage (.358). The guard has added 41 rebounds, 22 assists and 21 steals this season.
• Mayo ranks second among BIG EAST freshman in scoring (10.0), while ranking 10th in rebounding (2.2), fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (.358) and third in steals (1.1).
• Three Musketeers have earned BIG EAST All-Freshman Team honors: Aizhanique Mayo (2023-24), Fernanda Ovalle (2022-23) and Aaliyah Dunham (2017-18).
• Nila Blackford has 992 career rebounds in five seasons (played at Kent State from 2019-22; has played two seasons at Xavier from 2022-24). She has averaged 6.8 rebound per game in 121 career contests. The senior forward has also scored 1,294 points in her career (326 points at Xavier; 968 at Kent State).
• Only three other Musketeers have recorded 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career: Ta'Shia Phillips, Amber Harris and Tara Boothe.
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game. She has scored in double figures 14 times this season with four, 20-point performances. The guard scored a season-high 26 points vs Creighton on Feb. 6.
• Aizhanique Mayo has added 10.0 points per game to rank second on the team scoring. The freshman guard scored a season-high 20 points vs Providence on Jan. 27. She has a team-best .358 three-point field-goal percentage (34-for-95).
• Nila Blackford ranks third on the team in scoring (8.8) and first in rebounding (8.1). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (19). Blackford has added 26 assists and 21 steals. She ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.1) and 96th in the NCAA. She has 62 career double-figure scoring games and 35 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 42 steals and 66 assists. She has added 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 29.5 minutes per game, ranking 29th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 13th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 31.2 minutes per game, ranking 17th in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game this season. López ranks 16th in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman. She has averaged 9.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in her last five outings.
• Xavier went 14-for-14 from the foul line on Jan. 27 vs Providence, the team's second game of the season going perfect from the charity stripe (went 11-for-11 at Villanova on Dec. 30). Previously, 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).
• Seven different Musketeers have led the team in scoring this season, paced by Mackayla Scarlett who has led the team in scoring 11 times. Five Musketeers are averaging 6.9 or more points per game this year.
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 42.5 percent of the team's 5,425 minutes this season. The Musketeer freshmen have played 2,303 minutes this season.
• Mackayla Scarlett (13.4) and Aizhanique Mayo (9.8) lead the Musketeers in scoring during BIG EAST action. Scarlett has a team-high 28 steals, while Mayo has added a team-high 32 three pointers.
• Aizhanique Mayo ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring among freshmen, averaging 9.8 points per game. She also ranks eighth in three pointers made per game (1.8).
• Nila Blackford has chipped in a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game to go along with 7.3 points per game. The forward ranks eighth in the conference in rebounding.
• Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game (6.4) and fifth in steals (6.9). The Musketeers also rank seventh in three-point field-goal percentage (.307).
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 48.8 percent of the team's 3,600 minutes through 18 conference games. The Musketeer freshmen have played 1,757 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.
The two teams are playing each other for the second time in as many games. The Hoyas defeated Xavier, 66-46, on March 2 at Cintas Center.
GAME INFORMATION
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-26) vs GEORGETOWN HOYAS (19-10)
Friday, March 8 - 4 p.m. ET - Mohegan Sun Arena (10,000) - Uncasville, Conn.
Watch Live - flosports.link/3SbYMUc
Live Stats - bit.ly/48IVxYP
ABOUT GEORGETOWN
• Georgetown was picked to finish 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 14-17 (6-14 BIG EAST) record last year. Kelsey Ransom was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• The Hoyas have won three straight games and are 10-5 in road games this season.
• Georgetown leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense (54.9), while ranking 13th in the NCAA. The Hoyas also rank second in field-goal percentage defense (.373), while ranking 38th in the NCAA. Georgetown also ranks second in the conference in blocks (4.0), and third in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.294).
• Kelsey Ransom ranks 14th in the BIG EAST in scoring (13.9), while ranking fifth in assists (4.2) and steals (2.2). Graceann Bennett ranks 25th in the conference in scoring (9.5), while ranking 10th in rebounding (7.2) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.509).
SERIES HISTORY
• Xavier trails the all-time series with Georgetown, 14-10. The Musketeers have dropped five straight in the series.
• Xavier is 1-1 when playing the Hoyas in the BIG EAST Tournament.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS GEORGETOWN
March 2, 2024 - Georgetown 66, Xavier 46 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan. 20, 2024 - Georgetown 77, Xavier 49 (Washington, D.C.)
Jan. 31, 2023 - Georgetown 44, Xavier 41 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 4, 2022 - Georgetown 74, Xavier 52 (Washington, D.C.)
Feb. 25, 2022 - Georgetown 54, Xavier 40 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
2023-24 VS GEORGETOWN
• Xavier averaged 47.5 points per game with a .347 field-goal percentage in the two games vs the Hoyas this season. Georgetown averaged 71.5 points per game with a .469 field-goal percentage.
• Mackayla Scarlett averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in the two meetings. Nila Blackford averaged 9.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game with a .615 field-goal percentage (8-for-13).
• Aizhanique Mayo added 8.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, while Aanaya Harris chipped in 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• Xavier is 1-10 all-time in BIG EAST Tournament action. The Musketeers lone BIG EAST Tournament win was over Georgetown, 70-67, on March 7, 2015.
• Since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the Musketeers have never been higher than the No. 7 seed (twice). Xavier has been the No. 10 seed four times, the No. 9 and No. 11 seeds twice and the No. 8 seed once.
• The No. 11 seed is 7-20 all-time in BIG EAST Tournament action (0-3 record when No. 6 vs No. 11 in the first round for 2021-present bracket format; 3-4 record when No. 11 vs No. 14 in the first round for 2008-13 bracket format; 4-13 record when No. 6 vs No. 11 in the first round for the 1996-2008 bracket format).
• All told, Xavier is 36-29 in conference tournament history. The Musketeers posted a 28-12 record in Atlantic 10 Tournament action (1996-2013) with six championships.
• Xavier and Georgetown are meeting for the third time in the BIG EAST Tournament.
XAVIER VS GEORGETOWN - BIG EAST TOURNAMENT RESULTS
2015 - No. 7 seed Xavier 70, No. 10 seed Georgetown 67
2014 - No. 8 seed Georgetown 56, No. 9 seed Xavier 37
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT BRACKET
March 8 – First Round
Game 1: 8 seed Butler vs. 9 seed Providence, 11 a.m. (BEDN)
Game 2: 7 seed Seton Hall vs. 10 seed DePaul, 1:30 p.m. (BEDN)
Game 3: 6 seed Georgetown vs. 11 seed Xavier, 4 p.m. (BEDN)
March 9 – Quarterfinals
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. 1 seed UConn, Noon (FS1)
Game 5: 4 seed Villanova vs. 5 seed Marquette, 2:30 p.m. (FS2)
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. 2 seed Creighton, 7 p.m. (FS2)
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. 3 seed St. John's, 9:30 p.m. (FS2)
March 10 – Semifinals
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m. (FS1)
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 5 p.m. (FS1)
March 11 - Final
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs Game 9 winner, 7 p.m. (FS1)
MAYO NAMED TO BIG EAST All-FRESHMAN TEAM
• Aizhanique Mayo was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team on March 7. The Bridgeport, Conn., native ranks second on the team in scoring (10.0) and total three pointers made (34). She also ranks first in three-point field-goal percentage (.358). The guard has added 41 rebounds, 22 assists and 21 steals this season.
• Mayo ranks second among BIG EAST freshman in scoring (10.0), while ranking 10th in rebounding (2.2), fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (.358) and third in steals (1.1).
• Three Musketeers have earned BIG EAST All-Freshman Team honors: Aizhanique Mayo (2023-24), Fernanda Ovalle (2022-23) and Aaliyah Dunham (2017-18).
BLACKFORD CLOSING IN ON 1,000 REBOUNDS
• Nila Blackford has 992 career rebounds in five seasons (played at Kent State from 2019-22; has played two seasons at Xavier from 2022-24). She has averaged 6.8 rebound per game in 121 career contests. The senior forward has also scored 1,294 points in her career (326 points at Xavier; 968 at Kent State).
• Only three other Musketeers have recorded 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career: Ta'Shia Phillips, Amber Harris and Tara Boothe.
NOTABLES
• Mackayla Scarlett is averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game. She has scored in double figures 14 times this season with four, 20-point performances. The guard scored a season-high 26 points vs Creighton on Feb. 6.
• Aizhanique Mayo has added 10.0 points per game to rank second on the team scoring. The freshman guard scored a season-high 20 points vs Providence on Jan. 27. She has a team-best .358 three-point field-goal percentage (34-for-95).
• Nila Blackford ranks third on the team in scoring (8.8) and first in rebounding (8.1). The forward also ranks first in total blocks (19). Blackford has added 26 assists and 21 steals. She ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in rebounding (8.1) and 96th in the NCAA. She has 62 career double-figure scoring games and 35 career double-figure rebounding games.
• Tae'lor Purvis has a team-high 42 steals and 66 assists. She has added 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The guard is averaging 29.5 minutes per game, ranking 29th in the BIG EAST. Purvis also ranks 13th in steals per game (1.6).
• Daniela López is averaging 31.2 minutes per game, ranking 17th in the BIG EAST. She leads all BIG EAST freshmen in the category. The guard is averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game this season. López ranks 16th in the NCAA in minutes per game by a freshman. She has averaged 9.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in her last five outings.
• Xavier went 14-for-14 from the foul line on Jan. 27 vs Providence, the team's second game of the season going perfect from the charity stripe (went 11-for-11 at Villanova on Dec. 30). Previously, 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).
• Seven different Musketeers have led the team in scoring this season, paced by Mackayla Scarlett who has led the team in scoring 11 times. Five Musketeers are averaging 6.9 or more points per game this year.
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 42.5 percent of the team's 5,425 minutes this season. The Musketeer freshmen have played 2,303 minutes this season.
BIG EAST ONLY NOTABLES
• Mackayla Scarlett (13.4) and Aizhanique Mayo (9.8) lead the Musketeers in scoring during BIG EAST action. Scarlett has a team-high 28 steals, while Mayo has added a team-high 32 three pointers.
• Aizhanique Mayo ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring among freshmen, averaging 9.8 points per game. She also ranks eighth in three pointers made per game (1.8).
• Nila Blackford has chipped in a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game to go along with 7.3 points per game. The forward ranks eighth in the conference in rebounding.
• Xavier ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in three pointers made per game (6.4) and fifth in steals (6.9). The Musketeers also rank seventh in three-point field-goal percentage (.307).
• Xavier's freshmen have logged 48.8 percent of the team's 3,600 minutes through 18 conference games. The Musketeer freshmen have played 1,757 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.
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