Christie, Kanerva Lead Musketeers to 50-49 Win Over Butler

Saturday, January 18

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

6-12,1-6Big East

Butler

12-8,2-5Big East

Butler

Xavier

Christie, Kanerva Lead Musketeers to 50-49 Win Over Butler

01.18.25 | Women's Basketball

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The Musketeers posted a season-high .541 field-goal percentage on Saturday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball picked up a 50-49 win over Butler on Saturday at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers improve to 6-12 (1-6 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs drop to 12-8 (2-5 BIG EAST).

Xavier snapped a 47 BIG EAST regular-season game losing streak, earning the team's first conference win since Feb. 20, 2022 at Butler (W, 73-54). The win at Cintas Center is the team's first home conference win since Dec. 29, 2021 vs Butler (W, 77-55).

Xavier continues BIG EAST action at DePaul on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. ET from Wintrust Arena.

NOTABLE

Xavier hit 61.5 percent (8-for-13) of its shot attempts in the opening quarter, taking an 18-9 advantage after 10 minutes of action. Butler outscored Xavier, 10-6, in the second quarter to make the halftime score, 24-19.
The Musketeers didn't trail in the game until the 5:59 mark in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs opened the final stanza on a 7-0 run. The two teams exchanged baskets with Butler taking its final lead, 49-48, with 59 seconds left in regulation.
Loren Christie made a layup off a pass from Meri Kanerva with six seconds on the clock to give the Musketeers a one-point advantage (50-49).
Butler had two shot attempts in the closing seconds with the first shot being blocked by Loren Christie before an offensive rebound putback attempt by Lily Zeinstra fell short as time expired.
All told, the game had four lead changes and two ties. Xavier led for 38:20 in the contest.
Meri Kanerva scored a game-high 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting (scored 12 points in the first quarter). The freshman guard added four assists, three rebounds and two steals. She now has 11 career double-figure scoring games.
Loren Christie finished with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 18 minutes of action. The forward added four rebounds, one block and one steal. She now has 24 career double-figure scoring games.
Tae'lor Purvis added nine points, four rebounds and two steals. Petra Oborilova finished with five points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.
Xavier posted 10 steals in the game, the team's seventh game of the year with 10 or more steals.
The Musketeers posted a season-high .541 field-goal percentage (20-for-37) and went 5-for-13 from behind the arc. Xavier was also 5-for-8 from the foul line.
The .541 field-goal percentage is Xavier's highest percentage since Dec. 8, 2021 vs Niagara (Xavier posted a .596 field-goal percentage in an 82-78 win at Cintas Center).
Butler won the battle on the glass, 31-19, and scored six more second-chance points (12-6) than Xavier. The Musketeers held a 20-10 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored 10 more points in the paint (28-18) than Butler. The Bulldogs held a 4-2 advantage in fastbreak points and scored 14 more bench points (21-7) than Xavier.
The Xavier defense limited the Bulldogs to a .327 field-goal percentage (16-for-49). Butler was also 3-for-21 from behind the arc and 14-for-18 from the foul line.