Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
John LaFollette
Sports Editor
The Xavier women’s basketball team won five straight games over Christmas break, including two Atlantic 10 road games, before losing a heartbreaker at Charlotte over the weekend, 61-59.
During the streak the Musketeers comfortably dispatched Kansas, Penn, North Carolina State, Dayton and St. Louis before the loss to Charlotte.
Xavier saw a 20-point first half lead evaporate off 21 turnovers, the team’s second highest total of the year.
Trailing by five with 2:20 to play, senior center DeAnna Mason scored on a put-back under the basket, and senior guard Joei Clyburn made a free throw and a driving lay up to tie the game at 59-59 with 20 seconds left.
Charlotte freshman Wendy Stywalt made a runner from the lane with 2.3 seconds remaining, and senior guard Miranda Green missed her desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Seven-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Amber Harris was held to just six points and three rebounds before she fouled out of the game with 3:10 remaining.
Xavier fell to 13-5 on the season and 2-1 in conference play, while Charlotte improved to 12-6 and 3-0 in the conference.
The Musketeers travel to Clifton to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats in the women’s Crosstown Shootout at 7 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
To the credit of numerous efforts by concerned alumni, the respective universities and corporate sponsors, this year’s Shootout has been sold out.
The “Sell Out the Shootout” campaign was designed to both celebrate and raise awareness of women’s athletics.
Despite having a highly talented and competitive squad, the Xavier women’s team draws nearly 8,000 fewer fans per game to Cintas Center than their male counterparts. Last year’s women’s Shootout drew just 1,733 fans.
All 13,176 tickets at Fifth Third Arena were sold, with groups larger than ten paying a discounted price of two dollars each.
Some 5,000 young female athletes will be on hand for the game, which will boast the largest attendance in the history of the two women’s teams’ meetings.
The game is sold out, but Xavier and Cincinnati students may present their valid student IDs for free admission at the south end of the arena. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
John LaFollette
Sports Editor
After filling in as interim head coach following former head coach George Rathman’s resignation in November, Xavier University has named Steve Riegler the new head coach of men’s and women’s swim teams.
In an earlier interview, Athletic Director Mike Bobinski shared that Riegler would be a top candidate for the head coaching position when the university decided to begin its search for Rathman’s replacement.
A former assistant to Rathman and a former top assistant at Richmond, the 30-year-old Riegler brings a wealth of experience to the team.
To help him with his coaching duties, Riegler has announced that Brent MacDonald will be the new assistant coach for the Musketeers’ swim program.
John LaFollette 
Sports Editor
Senior Louisvillian Krystel Kooyman and sophomore Alissa Schriner led the women’s swim team to three top-three finishes at the Cleveland State University quad meet last weekend.
Kooyman was a part of two relays that won medals and finished second in the 500-meter relay. Her 200-meter medley relay, which also included junior Mary Kuhnen, sophomore Jill Winhusen and junior Lindsay Jackson, took third place.
In the 200-meter free relay, Kooyman joined Schriner and freshmen Alison Johnson and Elaina Suba to finish second.
Individually, the women swept the top three places in the 400 IM as Bridget Benner took the gold, Kelsey Burns won the silver and Martha Cutter-Wilson won the bronze medal.
The Xavier club hockey team will play their cross-river rivals, the Northern Kentucky Norse, this weekend in a two game series. The teams take the ice at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Northern Kentucky Ice Center.
The rivalry is intense, according to club president Sean Murray. “It’s always hard-hitting and usually high scoring,” he said. “For some reason they’ve taken to us as being a rival, so their fans get rowdy.”
Admission is $2 for Xavier students and $5 for all other adults. Adult concessions are available at the arena with proper identification.
