Nov. 9, 2012

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CINCINNATI - The Xavier women's basketball team is set to open its 2012-13 regular season Saturday night with in a match-up against the Bucknell Bison. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Cintas Center; doors open at noon. The 2012-13 women's basketball media guide will be for sale in the concourse for $12 apiece or three for $25.

About the Musketeers
Xavier finished the 2011-12 season with an 8-20 overall mark and a 5-9 record in Atlantic 10 play, making its 17th-consecutive appearance in the A-10 Tournament. As a team, the Musketeers ranked sixth in the league in rebounding margin (+3.1) at the end of last season and also ranked seventh in free throw percentage (.701) and field goal percentage (.400). XU returns four starters from a year ago and will have one junior college transfer and four freshman available for action.

The Musketeers' top returning scorer (10.6 ppg.) and rebounder (8.1 rpg. - 3rd A-10) senior Jessica Pachko was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Team heading into the 2012-13 season. Sophomore Lakeisha Crouch is the team's second-leading returning rebounder after averaging 6.4 boards per contest a year ago and junior Shatyra Hawkes ranked seventh last season in assists with 3.4 per game.

Scouting Bucknell
Bucknell is also kicking off its 2012-13 regular season this afternoon. The Bison finished last season with a 5-25 overall record with a 3-11 mark in Patriot League play. BU fell to Lehigh in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Patriot League Championship, 63-47.

The Bison have four starters returning from last year's squad including leading scorer junior Shelby Romine who averaged 10.0 ppg. and 3.1 apg. a year ago. Bucknell's top returning rebounder is senior Lindsay Horbatuck who grabbed 8.4 boards per contest and the team's blocked shots leader was current senior Felicia Mgbada who swatted 1.3 shots per game.

The Series
Xavier and Bucknell have previously met only one time. The Musketeers claimed an 80-75 win on Dec. 29, 1994 over the Bison at Pittsburgh's Lady Panther Invitational.

Last Time Out
In Xavier's only exhibition of the season, the Musketeers downed the visiting Indianapolis Greyhounds last Saturday, 67-51. Three players posted double-figures scoring including sophomore Lakeisha Crouch who narrowly missed the double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior Shatyra Hawkes led all scorers with 17 points and dished out a game-high six assists. Senior Jessica Pachko also tallied 10 points to go with six rebounds and two assists in the XU win.

Xavier Musketeers Women's Basketball

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