Xavier Closes Homestand with Loss to Villanova

Sunday, February 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

6-20,1-14Big East

Villanova

15-11,9-5Big East

Villanova

Xavier

Xavier Closes Homestand with Loss to Villanova

02.16.25 | Women's Basketball

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Meri Kanerva scored 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting on Sunday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's basketball closed its homestand with a 57-42 loss vs Villanova at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers moved to 6-20 (1-14 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improved to 15-11 (9-5 BIG EAST).

Xavier returns to BIG EAST action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Butler. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Hinkle Fieldhouse.

NOTABLE

The first half had five lead changes and three ties. Tied at 13-13 with 7:06 left in the first half, the Wildcats outscored the Musketeers, 7-4, to take a three-point lead into the locker room (20-17).
Villanova never relinquished the lead and took its first double-figure advantage, 35-25, with 2:30 left in the third frame. The Musketeers used a 5-0 run later in the quarter to close within five points (36-31) with 1:24 on the clock, but Jasmine Bascoe hit a basket as time expired in the quarter - giving the Wildcats a 38-31 advantage after 30 minutes of action.
The Wildcats outscored the Musketeers, 19-11, on 5-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter - pulling away for the 15-point win (57-42).
Meri Kanerva scored 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting with three 3-pointers. The freshman guard added one steal and one rebound. She now has 15 career double-figure scoring games.
Tae'lor Purvis scored 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting. The senior guard added a team-high three steals to go along with four rebounds and three assists. She now has 10 career double-figure scoring games.
MacKenzie Givens and Daniela López both added five points. Givens also had two rebounds and two steals.
Lucía Martínez López had a team-high five rebounds and four assists. She added one steal and one block.
Xavier finished with a .375 field-goal percentage (15-for-40) and went 5-for-15 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 7-for-10 from the foul line.
Villanova held a 19-11 advantage in points off turnovers and scored eight more points in the paint (24-16) than Xavier. The Wildcats also scored 13 more bench points (20-7) than the Musketeers.
Xavier scored two more second-chance points (9-7) than Villanova and held a 4-2 advantage in fastbreak points.
Villanova finished with a .417 field-goal percentage (20-for-48) and went 4-for-16 from three-point range. The Wildcats were also 13-for-16 from the foul line.