CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Xavier women’s basketball team rallied from an early deficit to defeat Long Island 64-57 on Tuesday night at Cintas Center. The Musketeers trailed 12-5 after the first quarter but seized control with a 24-point second quarter. Xavier’s defense then held the Sharks to 37.5% shooting in the second half to secure the win. MacKenzie Givens, a Cincinnati native, led all scorers with 18 points and added three blocks for Xavier. Vivien Nejašmić contributed 17 points in the victory. Kadidia Toure scored nine points for Long Island, which fell to 4-5. Xavier improved to 7-3 and will host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday.

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Xavier Musketeers overcame a sluggish and frigid start, riding a dominant second-quarter surge and a combined 35 points from MacKenzie Givens and Vivien Nejašmić to fend off the Long Island Sharks 64-57 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Cintas Center. The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period, where Xavier erased a seven-point deficit with a 24-8 quarter that completely shifted the momentum. After managing just five points on 2-of-17 shooting in the opening quarter and trailing 12-5, the Musketeers’ offense ignited. They connected on 10 of 19 shots in the frame, including three 3-pointers, while their defense stifled the Sharks, forcing five turnovers and holding them to 3-of-13 shooting. Givens, a Cincinnati native, spearheaded the turnaround and finished with a game-high 18 points, adding three blocks and three steals in 38 minutes. Her interior presence was pivotal, especially during the second-quarter run where she scored eight points. Nejašmić provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 17 points, with 15 coming in the second half to help Xavier maintain its lead whenever Long Island threatened. The Sharks, who fell to 4-5, controlled the early stages with aggressive defense, building a 20-5 lead late in the first quarter. Solangelei Akridge led Long Island with 18 points, all from beyond the arc, hitting six 3-pointers. Janessa Williams added 10 points. However, the team’s offensive struggles outside of Akridge’s shooting proved costly; Long Island shot just 30.2% from the field overall and 55% from the free-throw line. Despite the loss, Long Island’s defensive pressure was evident, as they forced 14 Xavier turnovers and recorded eight steals, converting them into 12 points. They also won the battle on the offensive glass, securing 13 rebounds to Xavier’s 11, which led to 15 second-chance points. Xavier, which improved to 7-3, never trailed after the second-quarter explosion but could not fully shake the Sharks. Long Island chipped away in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 47-41 heading into the final period, and again closed to within 57-54 with just over six minutes to play after back-to-back 3-pointers from Akridge. Each time, Xavier had an answer. Following Akridge’s triples, Nejašmić responded with a 3-pointer of her own, and after a free throw from Long Island’s Kadidia Toure, Meri Kanerva hit another three to push the lead back to six. Kanerva finished with nine points and a game-high five assists. In the final minutes, with Xavier leading 59-57, the Musketeers’ defense secured the victory. A block by Savannah White on an Akridge layup with 28 seconds left preserved the two-point margin. Audia Young then sank a free throw, and after a Long Island turnover, Givens hit two more from the line to seal the win. Xavier finished the game shooting 37.7% from the field and was only marginally better from long range than Long Island, making 8 of 31 attempts. The Musketeers’ advantage came from a more efficient offensive rating of 87.6 points per 100 possessions, compared to Long Island’s 79.7, and a 13-8 edge in points off turnovers. A crowd of 547 at Cintas Center saw Xavier successfully navigate a potential trap game, coming off an emotional road win over rival Cincinnati and facing a Long Island team that had played them tough throughout. The Sharks, now 0-3 on their current road swing, will look to regroup at Massachusetts-Lowell on Sunday. Xavier hosts Saint Francis (Pa.) next, also on Sunday.

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Xavier women’s basketball team looks to continue its winning momentum when it hosts Long Island on Tuesday night at Cintas Center. The Musketeers (6-3) enter the nonconference matchup riding a three-game win streak, most recently a 77-70 road victory over crosstown rival Cincinnati on Sunday. Forward MacKenzie Givens has been a driving force, averaging 18.4 points over her last five games. She erupted for 25 points and eight rebounds in the win over the Bearcats. “MacKenzie is playing with tremendous confidence right now,“ Xavier coach said. “Her ability to score at all three levels is opening things up for our entire offense.“ Long Island (4-4) seeks to snap a three-game skid after falling 81-72 at Dayton on Sunday. The Sharks have struggled offensively during the losing streak, averaging just 55.3 points per game. Guard Solangelei Akridge provides a spark, coming off a season-high 23-point performance against Dayton. However, her scoring has been inconsistent, as she was held to four points in a loss to Rider on Dec. 2. “Solangelei is our catalyst. When she’s aggressive and getting into the paint, our whole team feeds off that energy,“ Long Island coach said. “We need that for a full 40 minutes against a very good Xavier team.“ Xavier’s defense, which has held opponents to an average of 58.7 points during its win streak, will focus on containing Akridge and Kadidia Toure, who added 20 points against Dayton. The Musketeers counter with a balanced attack; alongside Givens, Meri Kanerva and Mariyah Noel combined for 39 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in the Cincinnati win. The game marks the first meeting between the programs. For Xavier, it serves as a final tune-up before a demanding Big East schedule begins in January. Long Island views it as a key opportunity to regain footing before Northeast Conference play. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST. Xavier is 4-0 at home this season, while Long Island is 2-2 on the road.