Givens, Xavier Top Bearcats in Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout

Sunday, December 7

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

6-3,1-1Big East

Cincinnati

4-6,0-0Big 12

Xavier

Cincinnati

Givens, Xavier Top Bearcats in Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout

12.07.25 | Women's Basketball

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The sophomore guard/forward scored a game and career-high 25 points on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Sophomore MacKenzie Givens scored a game and career-high 25 points on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena, leading the Musketeers to a 77-70 win over the Bearcats in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.

Xavier improved to 6-3 on the year, while Cincinnati dropped to 4-6.

The Musketeers snapped a two-game losing streak in the series and won at Fifth Third Arena for the first time since Dec. 11, 2016.

NOTABLES

The game featured four lead changes and three ties. Xavier led for 33:35 in the game, while the Bearcats only led for 3:41.
Xavier had its largest lead of the game, 65-54, with 6:18 left in regulation. Cincinnati responded by scoring 11 unanswered points to tie the game a 65-65 with 4:23 on the clock.
Xavier went on a 12-5 run to close the game and pull away for the seven-point win. The Musketeers went 2-for-4 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the foul line in the final 3:17 of the game.
MacKenzie Givens led three Musketeers in double figures with a game and career-high 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting. She added a game and career-high eight rebounds to go along with two steals. The Cincinnati native has scored in double figures five times this season with three, 20-point performances.
The 25 points by MacKenzie Givens is the most points by a Xavier player in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout since Dec. 14, 2019 (Morgan Sharps scored 24 points).
Mariyah Noel added 22 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. The guard has scored in double figures eight times this season with four, 20-point performances.
Xavier only committed seven turnovers, the fewest turnovers in a game since March 4, 2022 vs St. John's (also had seven turnovers).
Xavier had two players score 20 or more points in a game for the first time since March 7, 2025 vs DePaul (Meri Kanerva 28 points; Aizhanique Mayo 27 points).
Meri Kanerva finished with 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting. The guard added a team-high six assists to go along with five rebounds and two steals.
Petra Oborilova chipped in six points, five assists and four rebounds. Savannah White finished with four points and four rebounds.
Xavier posted a season-high .459 field-goal percentage (28-for-61) and went 7-for-23 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 14-for-16 from the foul line.
Cincinnati posted a .390 field-goal percentage (23-for-59) and went 7-for-24 from behind the arc. The Bearcats were also 17-for-23 from the foul ine.
Caliyah DeVillasee led three Bearcats in double figures with 20 points. Kylie Torrence pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Cincinnati won the battle on the glass, 37-32, and held a 14-8 advantage in second-chance points (14-8).
Xavier held a 21-3 advantage in points off of turnovers and scored 18 more points in the paint (36-18). The Musketeers also held a 15-14 advantage in fastbreak points. Cincinnati scored 21 more bench points (24-3) than Xavier.
Xavier had 19 assists, the second most assists in a game this season (had 20 assists vs Ohio on Nov. 20).
Xavier scored a season-high 77 points. The 28 made field goals were also a season high.
Xavier is 13-8 in the last 21 meetings vs the Bearcats with a 7-4 record in games played at Fifth Third Arena.