Post-Thanksgiving Brings Fifth-Ranked Xavier

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Troy University women's basketball program will close out the month of November by playing a team that could contend, and did so last season, for the national championship at the end of the year when they face fifth-ranked Xavier University on Friday afternoon.

Troy (1-4) faces fifth-ranked Xavier (3-0) for the first time in school history at 2:05 pm (EST) Friday afternoon at the Cintas Center. Both teams enter the contest off of victories on Tuesday night, the Trojans defeating Birmingham-Southern and Xavier defeating Louisville.

“This will be a tough test for us,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “Xavier is one of the best teams in the country, and will contend for the national championship at the end of the year. I am looking forward to seeing how our team responds to the challenge on Friday.”

The game will mark the 17th time the Trojans have faced a team in the national rankings, but the first time this season. It will also mark the highest-ranked team the Trojans have faced in school history; although Alabama finished fourth in the national rankings at the end of the year in 1994.

The Trojans defeated Birmingham-Southern on Tuesday night 58-35, setting new school Division I records in the process on defense. The Trojans held Birmingham-Southern to just 13 first half points and 35 total points; both breaking marks set by ULM on January 27, 2007. They also held the Panthers to just 12 field goals, breaking the mark of 13 set by ULM in the January game.

Troy just missed having three players record a double-double in the contest earlier this week when Donette McNair (10/10) and DeAngela Sword (19/10) recorded the feat, and Tenia Manuel (12/9) just missed out on her second career double-double.

For the season, McNair continues to lead the Trojans in scoring and rebounding as she finds herself among the conference leaders with 15.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Sword is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in her first season at Troy.

Xavier enters the game off a 71-59 victory over Louisville; in a game they trailed 31-28 at the half. The Musketeers outscored Louisville 43-28 in the second half. Xavier was led in the contest by Amber Harris with a double-double of 28 points and 18 rebounds. Meanwhile, Special Jennings added 13 and Tyeasha Moss added 11 in the victory.

On the season, Xavier is led by Harris at 21.7 points per game – pacing five players in double figures – and 12 rebounds per game. The Musketeers have four others in double figures – with all five starters averaging double figures – Ta'Shia Phillips (14 ppg), Moss (12.7 ppg), Katie Rutan (11.3 ppg) and Jennings (10 ppg).

The game can be heard on GoXavier.com on Friday afternoon.

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Post-Thanksgiving Brings Fifth-Ranked Xavier

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