Xavier Musketeers (4-3) Vs Cincinnati Bearcats (6-3) Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout Sunday, Dec
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XAVIER MUSKETEERS (4-3) VS CINCINNATI BEARCATS (6-3) SKYLINE CHILI CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT SUNDAY, DEC. 10 • 5 P.M. ET • CINTAS CENTER (10,224) Live Video: www.goxavier.com (Mike Schmaltz, Rich Hoyt) Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/xavier/wbball/media/ Series History: Xavier trails, 23-16 Last Meeting: Xavier 72, Cincinnati 61 (Cincinnati, Ohio - Fifth Third Arena) AT A GLANCE HEAD COACH: Brian Neal CINCINNATI - Xavier women’s basketball plays host to rival 2016-17 RECORD: 12-18 (4-14 BIG EAST) Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 10 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown TALE OF THE TAPE Shootout. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. from Cintas Center. XU ................................STAT (17-18) .............................UC KEY LOSSES FROM LAST YEAR: 63.3 .............................Points Per Game ....................... 68.8 G Raeshaun Gaffney (14.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) - graduation The Musketeers are 4-3 on the year, while the Bearcats are 61.0 .................... Opponent Points Per Game ............... 58.3 G Marquia Turner (9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 6-3. The two teams are playing for the Kendle Cup – the 41.5 ........................ Field-Goal Percentage ................... 45.2 apg) - transfer traveling trophy in the rivalry. 38.0 ................Opponent Field-Goal Percentage .......... 36.4 F Madison Blackwell (8.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) - 7.4 ........................... 3-pointers Per Game ...................... 5.6 graduation Sunday’s contest marks the 40th meeting between the two 33.5 .................. 3-point Field Goal Percentage ............. 29.8 F Leah Schaefer (3.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) - schools with the Bearcats holding a 23-16 advantage in the 35.4 ................. Opponent 3-point Field Goal % ............ 31.5 graduation series. 63.8 ....................... Free-Throw Percentage .................. 67.2 CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT FACTS 35.4 ..........................Rebounds Per Game .................... 37.8 • Xavier looks to win its fourth straight game over the 36.3 .................Opponent Rebounds Per Game ........... 32.2 2017-18 STATLINE XU BIG EAST rank Bearcats after posting a 72-61 victory last season on Dec. 11 12.4 ............................ Assists Per Game ........................ 15.2 Scoring offense 63.3 9th at Fifth Third Arena. Raeshaun Gaffney scored a game-high 16.4 ..........................Turnovers Per Game .................... 16.3 Scoring defense 61.0 5th 24 points in the win. 7.9 ...............................Steals Per Game ......................... 8.3 FT% .638 10th 3.1 ...............................Blocks Per Game ......................... 2.4 FG% .415 8th • Xavier has won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two FG% defense .380 3rd schools. BYRD’S BREAKOUT SENIOR SEASON 3FG% .335 7th • Jada Byrd leads the team in field-goal percentage (.578) - 3FG% defense .354 10th Rebounding margin - 0.9 6th • Two of the last five meetings have been decided by two the second best mark in the BIG EAST - while ranking second Steals 7.9 5th or fewer points. A total of 19 games in the rivalry have been in scoring (12.2). The senior guard entered the year averaging decided by 10 or fewer points. 2.1 points per game over her first three seasons. • Xavier is 4-4 against the Bearcats when playing at Cintas • Jada Byrd has averaged 14 points per game over her last Center. The Musketeers won the last meeting at Cintas Center, two outings. She has posted a .706 field-goal percentage (12- 65-56, on Dec. 13, 2015. for-17) in those games. 12.2 • Sunday’s matchup will be the 15th meeting in December. NOTABLES Jada Byrd is averaging 12.2 points Xavier is 8-6 versus Cincinnati when playing in the month of • A’riana Gray has averaged 7.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per per game this season. The senior game this season. Gray’s 7.3 rebounds per game leads all guard entered the year averaging December. 2.1 points per game over her first BIG EAST freshmen, while ranking fifth overall. She posted three seasons. ABOUT CINCINNATI her first career double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) at • Cincinnati is 6-3 on the year with a 1-1 mark in road games. Minnesota on Nov. 22. The Bearcats have four players who are averaging 10 or more points per game, paced by Iimar’I Thomas who is averaging • Imani Parlow leads the team in scoring (12.3) and 3 11.8 points per game. rebounding (8.3). The redshirt-junior has hit 47.8 percent of Xavier has won three straight her shot attempts this season. games against Cincinnati in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. • The Bearcats were slated to finish eighth in the AAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll after posting a 16-14 (7-9 AAC) • Xavier ranks sixth nationally in fewest fouls committed. The record last season. Musketeers have only committed 91 fouls this season. 10 LAST TIME OUT • Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage Xavier has won 10 of the last 13 • Xavier dropped a 63-53 road game at Bowling Green on defense (.380) and fifth in scoring defense (61.0). meetings against Cincinnati in the Wednesday, Dec. 6. Freshmen A’Riana Gray and Princess Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Stewart combined for 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting. NOTEWORTHY TEAM PERFORMANCES • Xavier held Fort Wayne to only 50 points on Nov. 29, the • The Musketeers posted a season-high 13 steals, their sixth time in the last two seasons the Musketeers have held second game of the year with 10 or more steals. A’riana Gray an opponent to 50 or fewer points. 7.3 and Na’Teshia Owens led Xavier with three steals each. Freshman A’riana Gray leads • The overtime win against New Hampshire was the first all BIG EAST freshmen in rebounding, averaging 7.3 BIG EAST HONORS overtime victory for the Musketeers since a 74-67 win against rebounds per game. She ranks Villanova on Dec. 31, 2015. Xavier went 0-3 in overtime fifth overall. • Jada Byrd was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon. The senior guard scored a career-high games last season. 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting in the Musketeers’ 62-50 win over Fort Wayne last week. She has earned the weekly honors 26-4 twice this season. Xavier has posted a 26-4 record in home non-conference games over the last four seasons. SCHEDULE GAME NOTES Overall Record: 4-3, 0-0 BIG EAST XU FROM THREE POINT RANGE • Xavier opens and closes the season against • Xavier has made 10 three pointers in a game Butler. The Musketeers travel to Hinkle Date Opponent Location Time (EST) twice this season (vs New Hampshire; vs Fieldhouse on Dec. 29 for a nationally televised NOVEMBER (4-2) Grambling State). The Musketeers haven’t scored matchup on FS2 and host the Bulldogs on Feb. 11 NEW HAMPSHIRE # Cincinnati, Ohio W, 71-66 (OT) 10 or more three pointers on more than one 25. 14 MOUNT ST. MARY’S Cincinnati, Ohio W, 66-45 occasion in a season since the 2013-14 campaign. 16 GRAMBLING Cincinnati, Ohio W, 72-67 • The Musketeers have won 31 non-conference 22 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. L, 74-62 • Xavier is averaging 7.4 three pointers per game games over the last four seasons with a 26-4 29 FORT WAYNE Cincinnati, Ohio W, 62-50 to rank fifth in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers mark at Cintas Center. 4 WAKE FOREST Cincinnati, Ohio L, 62-57 averaged 5.4 three pointers per game last season. OPPONENT BREAKDOWN DECEMBER (0-1) • Freshman Aaliyah Dunham ranks sixth in the • Xavier will take on two opponents for the first 6 at Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio L, 63-53 BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage as time in school history in Mount St. Mary’s and 10 CINCINNATI ! Cincinnati, Ohio 5 p.m. she has hit 47.1 percent (8-for-17) of her shot Furman. The contests with New Hampshire, 17 vs Furman ^ West Palm Beach, Fla. 7:30 p.m. attempts from behind the arc. Minnesota and Grambling will be only the second 18 vs Missouri ^ West Palm Beach, Fla. 5 p.m. meetings with each opponent in program history. 22 FLORIDA A&M Cincinnati, Ohio 7 p.m. YOUNG MUSKETEERS 29 at Butler * Indianapolis, Ind. 7 p.m. • Xavier enters the season with one of the • Xavier’s non-conference opponents combined youngest teams in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers to post a 186-192 overall record a year ago. JANUARY (0-0) have the second most underclassmen (9) in the Five teams posted winning records, while four 2 at Georgetown * Washington, D.C. 2 p.m. conference behind Villanova (10). teams advanced to postseason play (3 - WNIT; 5 at Villanova * Villanova, Pa. 7 p.m. 1 - NCAA). 7 ST. JOHN’S * Cincinnati, Ohio 2 p.m. • The Musketeers also have six true freshmen, 10 SETON HALL * Cincinnati, Ohio 7 p.m. the most of any team in the conference. • All told, Xavier will take on an opponent from 12 at DePaul * Chicago, Ill. 6 p.m. 11 different conferences. 14 at Marquette * Milwaukee, Wis. 3 p.m. • Xavier returns four upperclassmen (two seniors, 19 PROVIDENCE * Cincinnati, Ohio 7 p.m. two juniors) who entered the season with 42 XU BASKETBALL HISTORY 22 CREIGHTON * Cincinnati, Ohio Noon combined career starts. Those four players • Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament 26 VILLANOVA * Cincinnati, Ohio 7 p.m. (Jada Byrd, Anniina Äijänen, Imani Partlow and appearances, most recently advancing to the 28 GEORGETOWN * Cincinnati, Ohio 2 p.m. Kindell Fincher) combined to average 21.7 points tournament’s second round in 2011. per game last season. FEBRUARY (0-0) • The Musketeers’ best NCAA Tournament finish 2 at Seton Hall * South Orange, N.J.