Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Xavier
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Xavier
1/10/2023 12:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Friars host the Musketeers for their annual Project Providence game on Jan. 11 at 11:00 a.m.
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FRIARS HOST XAVIER IN ANNUAL PROJECT PROVIDENCE GAME... Providence College will host Xavier on Wednesday, Jan. 11 for its annual Project Providence game. The yearly event welcomes local elementary and middle-school students to the game and also includes an educational component. Tip-off is slated for 11:00 a.m.
FRIARS FINISH NON-CONFERENCE PLAY 9-2... The Friars finished their non-conference slate with a 9-2 record. It marks the most victories in regular-season non-conference play since 2019-20 (9-3).
PROVIDENCE VS. XAVIER ALL-TIME... The Friars and Musketeers have met 18 times during the history of the two women's basketball programs. Xavier leads the all-time series, 11-7.
FRIARS AND MUSKETEERS ALL-TIME AT ALUMNI HALL... The series is tied 4-4 in games played between Providence and Xavier at Alumni Hall. The Friars have claimed wins in three of the last four meetings at the venue, but the Musketeers were victorious in the most recent game between the two teams at Alumni (62-60), played on Feb. 13, 2022.
A LOOK BACK AT 2021-22... The Friars and Musketeers split the season series during the 2021-22 campaign, with each team getting a win on the road. Providence claimed a 54-49 victory at the Cintas Center on Jan. 11, 2022. Xavier followed with a 62-60 win at Alumni Hall on Feb. 13, 2022. Cincinnati, Ohio-native Kylee Sheppard averaged a team-best 12.5 points in the season series a year ago, while Olivia Olsen contributed 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. Mackayla Scarlett paced Xavier with 17.5 points per game in the series.
THE LAST TIME OUT... The Friars are coming off a 76-60 loss to BIG EAST foe Seton Hall in their most recent game on Jan. 8. It marked just the second loss of the season for Providence on its home court (7-2). The Friars trailed by as many as 16 midway through the second quarter, but managed to cut the deficit to as little as five (53-48) in the third with 1:34 on the clock. Seton Hall closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Kylee Sheppard paced the Friars with a season-high 20 points and Olivia Olsen recorded her first double-double of the season on 11 points and 11 boards. Brynn Farrell rounded out the list of double-digit scorers with 10 points and added eight rebounds. Seton Hall outscored Providence 18-9 in points off turnovers and the Friars shot just 12-21 at the free throw line (.571). PC dominated the boards, 43-30, including a 15-5 edge in offensive boards.
FRIARS DEFEAT NO. 25/24 CREIGHTON TO EARN FIRST WIN OVER A NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPONENT SINCE 2013... On Jan. 4, Providence claimed a 79-74 victory over No. 25/24 Creighton in Omaha, Neb. The last time Providence defeated a ranked opponent dates back to Jan. 23, 2013. The Friars claimed a 65-60 victory over then-No. 25 Villanova at Alumni Hall. Additionally, the Friars victory over Creighton marked the program's 15th victory all-time vs. a team ranked in the Associated Press Poll. Four of those 15 wins have come on the road, including three true road wins and one neutral-site game. The remaining 11 wins over opponents ranked in the AP Poll have come at home in Providence, R.I.Â
FRIARS EARN FIRST ROAD WIN OVER A TEAM RANKED IN THE AP POLL SINCE 1989... Providence earned its fourth road victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press Poll program history when it upset No. 25 Creighton in Omaha, Neb. (Jan. 4). It marked the first road win vs. a team ranked in the AP Poll since Dec. 29, 1989. On that day, the Friars defeated No. 25 DePaul, 106-92, during a neutral site game in Palo Alto, Calif. The Friars have two true road wins over teams ranked in the AP Poll vs. No. 17 Houston in Houston, Texas (W, 65-59 on 12/28/85) and vs. No. 15 St. John's in Queens, N.Y. (W, 66-61 on 1/28/84). In addition to the program's four road victories vs. teams ranked in the AP Poll, the Friars have posted 11 wins over teams ranked in the AP Poll at home in Providence, R.I.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER IN FRIARTOWN... On Jan. 4, the Providence men's and women's basketball teams knocked off nationally-ranked opponents on the same night. The men took down No. 4/5 Connecticut, 73-61, at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. The women defeated No. 25/24 Creighton at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, Neb.
FRIARS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS IN 2022-23... The Friars are 1-2 this season vs. nationally ranked opponents and 0-1 vs. opponents receiving votes in the national polls.Â
12/2/22    #3/3 Connecticut    53-98 (L)   Storrs, Conn.
12/4/22   #25/RV Villanova   54-79 (L)   Providence, R.I.
12/18/22   RV/RV St. John's   55-63 (L)   Queens, N.Y.
1/4/23   #25/24 Creighton   79-75 (W)   Omaha, Neb.
GRACE EFOSA NETS CAREER-BEST 27 POINTS IN 79-75 VICTORY OVER NO. 25/24 CREIGHTON... Junior Grace Efosa had a career night in the Friars' 79-75 victory over No. 25/24 Creighton. The 5-11 guard exploded for 27 points on 12-17 shooting from the field (0.706) and also contributed five rebounds and three assists. Efosa's previous career high was 13 points at Rhode Island (11/14/22). Her 27 points against the Bluejays marked her sixth double-digit scoring game of the season and seventh of her career.
TOTAL TEAM EFFORT... While the headline boasted Grace Efosa's 27 point effort in the Friars' win over No. 25/24 Creighton, the stat sheet proves it was a total team effort. Three other players joined Efosa in double figures, including Janai Crooms (14), Olivia Olsen (13) and Kylee Sheppard (12). Efosa (16) and Olsen (11) combined for 27 points in the decisive second half on 12-15 shooting. As a team, Providence shot an impressive 54.8-percent from the field during the game (34-62), marking their second-highest shooting percentage this season. It helped offset a night when Creighton drilled 16-32 attempts from beyond the arc (.500). The Jays were 27-62 from the field overall (.435). The Friars won the battle of the boards, 36-31, led by a career-best nine rebounds by Brynn Farrell. Four Friars posted 5+ rebounds on the night. Ball security played a key role in the game, as Providence committed a season-low six turnovers. Statistically, Providence outscored the Jays in points off turnovers (9-5), points in the paint (42-18), second-chance points (13-4) and bench points (11-10).
OLIVIA OLSEN MAKING BIG CONTRIBUTIONS... Sophomore forward Olivia Olsen enters Wednesday's game against Xavier ranked second on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) and leads the Friars in blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and offensive rebounds (44). She is shooting a solid 53-percent from the field (82-155). Olsen leads the team in double-digit scoring games (11), including six of the last seven games. She is the only player on the roster to score in double figures in each of the last four games. In the Friars' win over No. 25/24 Creighton, Olsen tallied 11 of her 13 points in a decisive second half rally, during which time she hit 5-7 attempts from the field. On Jan. 8 vs. Seton Hall, Olsen posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards and added three steals, two blocks and two assists.
FIRST WIN WHEN TRAILING AT HALFTIME... The Friars earned their first victory of the season when trailing at halftime on Jan. 4 vs. No. 25/24 Creighton. Providence trailed 46-39 at the break and went on to claim a 79-75 victory. The Friars entered the game 0-5 on the year when trailing at the half.
START STRONG... The Friars are 9-1 this season when leading at halftime. Providence's only loss when holding a halftime lead came against URI on Nov. 14. The Friars led 50-40 at the break and fell to the Rams, 74-72.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES... The Friars have held 10 of their 17 opponents below 40-percent shooting from the field this season and are 9-1 in those games. PC lost for the first time when holding an opponent below 40-percent on Dec. 28 at DePaul. The Friars held the Blue Demons to 37.7-percent shooting and dropped a 78-69 decision.
HOME-SWEET-HOME... The Friars own a 10-6 record this season, including a 7-2 mark on their home court (Alumni Hall). Providence's two home losses came at the hands of No. 25 Villanova (79-54) on Dec. 4 and most recently to Seton Hall (76-60) on Jan. 8. The Friars are 3-5 on the road.
PLAYER MAKER ON OFFENSE... Janai Crooms leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg) through 17 games. As a team, Providence has made 420 field goals this season and Crooms has scored or assisted on 38-percent of Providence's buckets (160).Â
JANAI CROOMS STANDS ALONE... Janai Crooms is only active player in the league with more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 125 steals and 100 blocked shots in her career. Through 17 games this season, Crooms ranks 17th in the BIG EAST in scoring (12.4 ppg), eighth in rebounding (7.5 rpg), fifth in defensive rebounds (5.5 drpg), fourth in assists (4.1 apg), eighth in field-goal percentage (.514), 11th in blocked shots (1.0 bpg) and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
20 SOMETHING... Five different Friars have recorded at least one 20-point game this season. Janai Crooms has scored 20+ points in three of the Friars' 17 games. Olivia Olsen recorded the first 20+ point game of her career against Brown (22) on Dec. 7. On Dec. 28, Brynn Farrell dropped a career-best 21 points and Grace Efosa tallied a career-best 27 points against No. 25/24 Creighton on Jan. 4. Most recently, Kylee Sheppard scored a season-best 20 points against Seton Hall on Jan. 8. Six players on the Friars' roster have recorded at least one 20-point game during their careers: Crooms (eight), Kylee Sheppard (three), Olsen (one) Farrell (one) Efosa (one) and Emily Archibald (one).
1,000-POINT MILESTONE... Janai Crooms scored her 1,000th point in the Friars' season opener vs. Dayton on Nov. 7. She entered the game 14 points shy of the milestone and hit the mark with 7:41 left in the third quarter. Crooms heads into Wednesday's game against Xavier ranked 21st all-time in career scoring at Providence with 1,197 points.Â
CLIMBING THE LADDER... Janai Crooms ranks seventh on the Friars' all-time career assist list (408). Crooms dished 171 of her 404 assists during her two seasons at Ohio State (2018-20), added 65 at Michigan State (2020-21) and has registered 172 dimes with the Friars (2021-present). Through 129 career games, Crooms has averaged 3.2 assists per contest.
CROOMS CRACKS TOP-25 IN REBOUNDING... In addition to being ranked among Providence's all-time leaders in scoring and assists, Crooms also has cracked the top-25 in career rebounding at PC. She currently ranks 21st on the Friars' all-time list with 632 rebounds. She has recorded double-digit boards in three games this season, including a season-high 17 boards against Weber State on Nov. 26. Her 17 boards mark the highest single-game total by a BIG EAST guard this season, and is the third highest single-game total overall.
SINGLE DIGITS... Eight of the Friars' 17 games have been decided by nine points or less and the team has posted a 4-4 record in those games. Additionally, Providence has posted a 2-1 record in games decided by five points or less.Â
BOARD IT... The Friars have out-rebounded 14 of their 17 opponents this season and have posted a 10-4 record in those games. Providence is 0-3 on the season when it secures fewer rebounds than its opponent.
FRIARS PUT UP SEASON-BEST 85 POINTS AGAINST BRYANT... Providence defeated Bryant, 85-60, on Nov. 27. It marks the highest single-game scoring total for the Friars since Nov. 14, 2017, when the squad claimed a 98-95 overtime victory against Northeastern. Additionally, it's the first time Providence scored 80+ points in a game since Feb. 8, 2019 when it defeated Seton Hall 82-75.
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY SINCE 2018-19 SEASON... The Friars defeated Central Connecticut, 77-45, on Dec. 10. The 32-point win is the largest margin of victory since defeating Bryant by 44 (74-32) on Dec. 7, 2019. The Friars have won two games this season by 30-or-more points. Providence defeated Hartford, 60-30, on Nov. 25.
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NEWCOMERS... The Friars added two transfers and one freshman to the roster in 2022-23. Graduate student Logan Cook played four seasons at Iowa, during which time the Hawkeyes won two Big Ten titles (2019, 2022) and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament (2022) and Sweet 16 (2019). She played 53 career games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Junior Brynn Farrell played two seasons at Florida, where she played 28 games for the Gators after being slowed by an injury. She averaged 2.9 points and 1.0 rebound per game and connected on 22-28 free throw attempts in two seasons (.786). Kammie Ludwig is the lone true freshman on the squad and attended Geneseo High School prior to arriving on campus. The 3A All-State selection and IBCA All-State honoree averaged 24.6 points per game as a senior and finished her career as Geneseo's all-time leading scorer (1,881 points).
JANAI CROOMS MAKES CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES ON BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL... Janai Crooms earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks (Nov. 21 & 28). To claim her most recent recognition, Crooms was named Most Outstanding Player of the Friar Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 25-27) after averaging 11.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in a 3-0 week for Providence.
KYLEE SHEPPARD NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL AS FRIARS CLOSE NON-CONFERENCE PLAY... Sophomore guard Kylee Sheppard was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Dec. 26. She posted her first career double-double against Sacred Heart on Dec. 20, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She also added four assists, two steals and a career-best two blocked shots.Â
OLIVIA OLSEN NAMED TO FRIAR THANKSGIVING CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM... Olivia Olsen was named to the Friar Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team, following Providence's three victories over Hartford, Weber State and Bryant (Nov. 25-27). Olsen led the Friars in scoring (13.0 ppg) and contributed 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game. She shot 55.6-percent from the field (15-27) and 90-percent from the foul line (9-10).Â
JANAI CROOMS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAM... Senior guard Janai Crooms was among the list of 11 student-athletes named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, released at the league's annual media day on Oct. 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. Crooms is entering her second season with the Friars and her final season of NCAA Division I basketball. In addition to her time at Providence (2021-present), she also played two seasons at Ohio State (2018-20) and one season at Michigan State (2020-21). A year ago, Crooms was named All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention after leading the Friars in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg) and assists (3.5 apg).
2021-22 UNANIMOUS BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM HONOREE KYLEE SHEPPARD RETURNS FOR SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN... Kylee Sheppard missed a third of her rookie season with injuries, but still found a way to make a significant impact during her time on the court. She appeared in 20 of the Friars' 30 games and averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds. 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Sheppard finished the year ranked third on the team in scoring and second in assists and steals. She shot 40.2-percent from the field (68-169), including 24-68 from three-point territory (.353), and recorded eight double-digit scoring games. Sheppard notched 20+ points in two games as a rookie, and both came during BIG EAST regular-season play, including a career-best 22 points against DePaul (Jan. 7) on 9-12 shooting from the field.
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FRIARS IN THE POSTSEASON... The Friars' last appeared in the postseason during the 2018-19 campaign. Providence's 2019 WNIT selection marked the program's 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. In 2019-20, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Friars did not qualify for postseason during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign. Complete post-season breakdown follows (records in parentheses):
2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 (2-1)
2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)
1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)
1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)
1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1986-87 National Women's Invitational Tournament (1-2)
1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)
1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)
1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)
1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)
WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars return to action with a pair of road games at Marquette and Butler. Providence heads to the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wis. to face the Golden Eagles on Jan. 14 at 3:00 p.m. (ET). On Jan. 18 at 7:00 p.m., the Friars will face the Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
