Givens, Nejašmic Lead Musketeers to 63-59 Win Over Butler

Sunday, February 1

Cincinnati, Ohio

1 p.m.

Xavier University

11-11,4-9Big East

Butler

9-13,3-9Big East

Butler

Xavier

Givens, Nejašmic Lead Musketeers to 63-59 Win Over Butler

02.01.26 | Women's Basketball

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The two players combined for 37 points on Sunday afternoon

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - MacKenzie Givens and Vivien Nejašmić combined for 37 points on Sunday afternoon, leading the Musketeers to a 63-59 win over Butler at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers improved to 11-11 (4-9 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs dropped to 9-13 (3-9 BIG EAST).

Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at St. John's. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Carnesecca Arena with the game being aired on ESPN+.

NOTABLES

Xavier led for 38:36 in the game and had its largest lead, 30-15, with 1:08 left in the first half. The Musketeers never relinquished the lead, but the Bulldogs battled back to get within five points (58-53) with 55 seconds left in the game.
Xavier responded by going on a 5-3 run to push its lead to seven points (63-56) with seven seconds left in the game. An Addison Baxter three pointer for the Bulldogs as time expired made the final score, 63-59.
Vivien Nejašmić had a game-high 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. She added six rebounds and a game-high five assists (also a career high). In two games vs Butler this season, she averaged 21.5 points per game on 18-for-29 shooting. The guard now has six career double-figure scoring games.
MacKenzie Givens posted 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The guard/forward added three rebounds and three steals.
Mariyah Noel finished with 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting. She added six rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Savannah White pulled down a game-high eight rebounds to go along with seven points, three assists and three steals. The forward played all 40 minutes.
Meri Kanerva added eight, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 40 minutes of action.
The Musketeers posted a .491 field-goal percentage (26-for-53) and went 6-for-16 from behind the arc. Xavier was also 5-for-8 from the foul line.
Xavier won the battle on the glass, 32-29, and held a 17-15 advantage in points off of turnovers. Xavier also scored eight more points in the paint and held a 10-6 advantage in fastbreak points.
Butler scored one more bench point (20-19) and held a 7-4 advantage in second-chance points.
Butler posted a .407 field-goal percentage (22-for-54) and went 8-for-28 from behind the arc. The Bulldogs were also 7-for-11 from the foul line.
Xavier had 10 steals in the game, the third time the Musketeers have recorded 10 or more steals in a game this season.
Xavier limited the Bulldogs to five points in the first quarter, the fewest points allowed in a quarter by Xavier this season. The last time Xavier allowed five or fewer points in a quarter was on March 8, 2025 vs Seton Hall in the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals (only allowed five points in the first quarter).