Xavier Moves to 2-0, Tops Wildcats on Thursday Night

Thursday, November 5

Evanston, Ill.

8 p.m. ET

Xavier University

2-0,0-0Big East

Northwestern

1-1,0-0Big Ten

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Xavier	15	24	26	26	91
Northwestern	23	18	19	18	78

Box Score (PDF)

11.06.26 | Women's Basketball

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

The Musketeers defeated Northwestern, 91-78, at Welsh-Ryan Arena

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

EVANSTON, Ill. - Xavier women's basketball moved to 2-0 on the year with a 91-78 win at Big Ten member Northwestern on Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Northwestern dropped to 1-1 on the year following the loss.

The Musketeers open the home portion of their schedule on Monday, Nov. 9 vs Akron. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. from Cintas Center.

NOTABLES

Xavier scored 91 points vs Northwestern, the most points in a game by the Musketeers since Dec. 2, 2018 vs North Alabama (W, 94-81 in OT). The 91 points are the most points in a road game since Feb. 16, 2011 at Saint Louis (W, 92-60).
The Musketeers posted a .620 field-goal percentage (31-for-50) vs the Wildcats, the highest field-goal percentage in a game since Feb. 11, 2018 vs DePaul (L, 73-72; also hit 60 percent of shot attempts). It's the highest field-goal percentage in a road game for the Musketeers since Feb. 16, 2011 at Saint Louis (W, 92-60; hit 66.1 percent of shot attempts).
The win on Thursday night was the program's first win over a Big Ten team since Dec. 5, 2016 vs Michigan (W, 61-58). It was the program's first road win over a Big Ten team since Nov. 13, 2013 at Michigan (W, 79-75 in OT).
Lucile Jerome, Meri Kanerva and Kejia Ran combined to score 61 points on 19-for-29 shooting (.731) vs the Wildcats.
Lucile Jerome finished with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting. The guard was also 3-for-6 from behind the arc and 5-for-6 from the foul line. She added two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Meri Kanerva scored 22 points on 5-for-5 from the floor with two 3-pointers. The guard was also 10-for-13 from the foul line. She added a game-high eight assists.
Kejia Ran added 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. The guard posted a game-high three steals and dished out three assists.
Maria Anais Rodriguez finished with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting. She added five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Diawna Carter-Hartley and Kodee Williams-Sefo both added seven points. Marta Moscarella chipped in six points.
The Musketeers went 8-for-15 from behind the arc and 21-for-27 from the foul line. The 21 made free throws are the most in a game since Dec. 22, 2024 vs Fordham (went 25-for-32 in a 71-62 win).
Northwestern won the battle on the glass, 26-24, and scored seven more second-chance points (16-9). The Wildcats also scored 10 more fastbreak points (12-2).
Xavier held a 42-34 advantage in points in the paint and scored six more bench points (20-14). Northwestern scored two more points off of turnovers (19-17).
The game featured eight lead changes and eight ties. Xavier led for 20:33 in the contest.
With the game tied, 44-44, with 7:42 on the clock in the third quarter, Kejia Ran scored five straight points to give the Musketeers a five-point lead. The Musketeers never relinquished the lead and led by as many as 14 points three times in the fourth quarter.
The Musketeers hit 77.8 percent (7-for-9) of their shot attempts in the final quarter to pull away for the 13-point victory. Xavier was also 11-for-13 from the foul line in the final frame.