Jan. 10, 2008

Recap |  Box Score |  AP Action Photos 

Sunday's Game Notes

CINCINNATI - The Xavier University women's basketball team will travel to our nation's capital to meet No. 17 George Washington on Sunday, January 13^th.  Game time is set for 5 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPN2.  Xavier enters Sunday's game with a 10-5 record and fresh off of a victory over No. 7 Georgia.  GW is 12-3 on the year and the showdown will be the conference opener for both squads.

XU vs. Ranked Teams
Following their 65-55 win over No. 7 Georgia, Xavier improved to 7-17 all-time vs. teams ranked in the Associated Press Poll, including a spotless 2-0 this year.  XU downed No. 24 NC State by a 51-49 score on December 12.  George Washington comes into Sunday's contest ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll and the No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.  Xavier is 1-7 all-time when playing a ranked team on its home court with the only win coming this season at NC State.  Georgia was the highest-ranked XU had ever beaten at home and the Lady Dogs were the highest-ranked opponent XU had beaten since the team downed No. 3 Tennessee in the 2001 NCAA Mideast Regional semifinal.     

Xavier Not at a Loss
XU's loss to Cincinnati on December 1, 2007 marked the Musketeers' first two-game losing streak since the team dropped a 74-72 decision to Louisville on November 30, 2006.  Since the 2004-05 season, XU is 27-2 following a loss.

New Year's "D" at UK
The Musketeers improved to 5-1 all-time vs. Kentucky with a 51-46 victory on New Year's Day in Lexington.  The victory came thanks in large part to a solid defensive effort by XU.  Xavier held Kentucky to 25.4 percent from the floor, marking the lowest field goal percentage for an XU opponent on its home floor since Rhode Island shot 23.6 percent from the floor on January 6, 2000 in Kingston, R.I.  Xavier held UK to 11.1 percent shooting in the second half (3-for-27), which marked the worst field goal percentage on record an opponent has shot in a half.  Xavier is now 6-1 vs. SEC teams since the 2005-06 season.

Solid Debuts
Transfers Tudy Reed (Rutgers) and April Phillips (Georgia Tech) made their long-awaited Xavier debuts on December 28 at Akron.  Neither Reed (junior) nor Phillips (sophomore) disappointed.  Reed scored a career-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while Phillips scored seven points in a one-minute span against the Zips.  Xavier is 4-1 since Phillips and Reed became eligible. 

XU vs. the Power Conferences
Xavier is 27-27 all-time vs. teams from the ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-10.  XU played a record nine schools from the power conferences in 2006-07, besting the previous record of five set during the 2005-06 season.  Xavier is scheduled to play eight games vs. teams from the power conferences this year.  XU is 17-15 vs. BCS schools since Kevin McGuff was named head coach prior to the 2002-03 season and finished the 2006-07 season at 5-4 vs. the power conferences.

The Series vs. the Colonials
Xavier is 11-16 all-time vs. George Washington, including 1-10 all-time vs. the Colonials at the Smith Center.  The series is more even of late as XU is 9-10 vs. GW since in the last 19 games.  Xavier's only win vs. GW at the Smith Center came in 63-58 fashion on January 2, 1998.

XU in A-10 Openers
The Musketeers are 5-7 all-time in Atlantic Conference openers and have lost six of the last nine A-10 openers.  Xavier 1-1 all-time vs. GW in A-10 openers.  

XU Conference Openers
Tonight's game against George Washington will mark XU's 25^th conference opener and the Musketeers are 11-13 in their previous 24 conference openers.  XU was 0-3 in North Star Conference openers, 6-3 in Midwestern Conference openers and is 5-7 in A-10 openers.      


XU in A-10 Openers on the Road
The Musketeers are 3-5 all-time in Atlantic 10 Conference openers on the road.  The Musketeers won at Dayton, 71-54, in last year's A-10 opener.