Xavier women’s basketball upsets DePaul for 1st Big East Tournament win in 10 years

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Xavier women’s basketball beat No. 6 DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Xavier women’s basketball’s 10-year postseason losing streak is over.

Xavier, the No. 11 seed in the Big East Tournament, upset No. 6 DePaul Friday night, 80-73, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Xavier’s last Big East Tournament victory was exactly 10 years ago, on March 7, 2015, over Georgetown at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

“So incredibly proud of this group and their resiliency,” second-year head coach Billi Chambers said. “Watching them in the locker room, they work so hard, and they haven’t really seen the result they wanted this year. It fills me up to see their hard work come to fruition and win a big one for Xavier. I’m super proud of this group.”

Xavier freshman guard Meri Kanerva led all scorers with a career-high 28 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a memorable second-quarter buzzer-beater from beyond half court to give the Musketeers a 33-19 halftime lead. Kanerva also dished out 4 assists and went 11-of-13 at the free-throw line to help Xavier pull away.

“Watching her (Kanerva) throw that in just reminded our team that we were good, we got this,” Chambers said of the momentum swing. “It’s something we practice the day before games, anyway. Everybody gets to take a halfcourt shot. They were pumped that she made it this time around.”

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Sophomore guard Aizhanique Mayo also had a career scoring night with 27 on 9-of-14 shooting, including a half-dozen 3-pointers. Guard Tae’lor Purvis was the third Musketeer in double figures with 12.

Xavier guard Aizhanique Mayo (2) hit six 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 26 points in the Musketeers’ Big East Tournament win over DePaul on Friday, March 7, 2025.

“It was almost like that sophomore slump this year. She (Mayo) had been so sped up all season,”…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/xavier-womens-basketball-upsets-depaul-000748477.html

Author : The Enquirer

Publish date : 2025-03-08 00:07:00

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