Xavier Falls at Villanova on Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, January 25

Villanova, Pa.

2 p.m.

Xavier University

6-14,1-8Big East

Villanova

11-10,5-4Big East

Xavier

Villanova

Xavier Falls at Villanova on Saturday Afternoon

01.25.25 | Women's Basketball

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

Meri Kanerva led the Musketeers with 10 points and six rebounds

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Xavier women's basketball dropped a 67-52 BIG EAST contest at Villanova on Saturday afternoon at Finneran Pavilion.

The Musketeers move to 6-14 (1-8 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improve to 11-10 (5-4 BIG EAST).

Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 29 vs Marquette. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

NOTABLE

Xavier opened the game on an 11-2 run, taking a nine-point lead at the 3:44 mark in the first quarter. Defensively, the Musketeers limited the Wildcats to a .008 field-goal percentage (1-for-13) during that span. Xavier took a 13-4 lead after 10 minutes of action behind a .556 field-goal percentage (5-for-9). The Musketeers limited Villanova to 2-for-17 shooting in the opening frame.
The Wildcats opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run behind 4-for-4 shooting, tying the game at 13-13 with 7:23 on the clock. Villanova led by as many as six points (21-15) with 4:55 left in the half. Xavier battled back to tie the game twice down the stretch, but the Wildcats finished the half on a 4-1 run - taking a three-point lead (27-24) into the locker room.
Villanova outscored Xavier, 17-10, to open the second half - taking its first double-figure lead (44-34). The Wildcats led by as many as 19 points (53-34) with 2:39 left in the quarter and took a 56-38 advantage with 10 minutes left in the game.
Xavier outscored Villanova, 14-11, in the fourth quarter behind 6-for-12 shooting to make the final ledger, 67-52. Júlia Garcia Roig led the Musketeers with five points in the frame.
Meri Kanerva scored a team-high 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting. The freshman has now scored in double figures 12 times this season. The guard also dished out three assists and pulled down a career-high six rebounds.
Aizhanique Mayo added eight points in 20 minutes of action off the bench. Júlia Garcia Roig finished with seven points, while Daniela López added six points and three rebounds.
Loren Christie and Tae'lor Purvis both chipped in five points.
Xavier posted .513 field-goal percentage (20-for-39), the team's fourth game of the year shooting 50 percent or better from the floor. The Musketeers were also 3-for-14 from behind the arc and 9-for-11 from the foul line.
Villanova won the battle on the glass, 30-28, and held a 30-8 advantage in points off of turnovers. The Wildcats also scored nine more fastbreak points (13-4) than the Musketeers and held a 6-4 advantage in second-chance points.
Xavier scored eight more points in the paint (32-26) than Villanova and held a 27-15 advantage in bench points.
Villanova was limited to a .393 field-goal percentage (24-for-61). The Wildcats were also 7-for-21 from behind the arc and 12-for-13 from the foul line.