Preview: Xavier Musketeers at Seton Hall Pirates NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Two teams riding opposite waves of momentum will meet Sunday when the Xavier women’s basketball team visits Seton Hall in a Big East Conference matchup at Prudential Center. Both teams enter with identical 8-4 overall records, but their paths have diverged recently. The visiting Musketeers look to rebound from a 58-64 road loss at Butler on Dec. 19, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Pirates, meanwhile, are buoyed by an 88-79 victory at Creighton on Dec. 22, a signature road win that highlighted their offensive firepower. The matchup features two of the conference’s top guards. Xavier will lean on Vivien Nejašmić, who is coming off a career-high 24-point performance in the loss to Butler. Over her last three games, the guard is averaging 16.7 points. Seton Hall counters with dynamic guard Jada Eads, who orchestrated the win over Creighton with 18 points and five assists. Eads has scored in double figures in seven of her last eight contests, averaging 14.6 points and 3.6 assists during that stretch. Xavier’s success this season has been built on defense, holding opponents to an average of 60.2 points per game outside of a lopsided loss to top-ranked Connecticut. The Musketeers will need that discipline against a potent Seton Hall offense that averages 72.8 points and is coming off its highest scoring output of the season. The Pirates’ backcourt duo of Eads and Mariana Valenzuela, who poured in 23 points against Creighton, presents a significant challenge. Xavier will rely on the playmaking of Meri Kanerva, who dished out eight assists against Butler, to manage the game and find Nejašmić in rhythm. This game serves as a critical early conference test for both squads seeking to establish themselves in the Big East standings. Xavier aims to prove its resilience on the road, while Seton Hall looks to protect its home court and build on its most impressive win of the season. Tip-off is set for Sunday, Dec. 28, at Prudential Center.