Saint Xavier’s women’s basketball team boasts a 25-2 record and are ranked No. 3 overall with two regular season contests left to play. The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) tournament begins on February 22 and the Cougars are in a position to grab a top seed thanks in part to a 16-2 conference record.
Saint Xavier has plans to not only win the CCAC tournament, but also make a run at the NAIA National title. First, however, the Cougars need to receive a bid into the NAIA tournament, which can be acquired through winning the CCAC North division or by winning the conference tournament.
With two games remaining on their schedule, the women have work to do before they set sights on lofty goals ahead.
One of two losses suffered by the women this season came at the hands of top ranked and CCAC leading University of Saint Francis. The Cougars and Fighting Saints are on a collision course for the CCAC title, but a lot of basketball is left to be played before a conference champion is crowned on February 28.
Among the remaining regular season contests for the women includes a rematch versus No. 16 Cardinal Stritch University on Saturday, February 18. The battle will likely determine the winner of the CCAC North division, as well as the second seed in the conference tournament and an automatic bid to the national tournament in March.
The Cougars will have to play out the remainder of this year without contributions from senior guard Revi McMahon. McMahon, through an Instagram post, announced her retirement from the game after suffering an ACL tear in practice last Tuesday.
McMahon played in 80 games over her four-year career at Saint Xavier and specialized in creating opportunities for her teammates whenever she took the floor.
This season, Revi McMahon led the Cougars out of the locker room and into the gym prior to every game at the Shannon Center. Now, Revi hands over that responsibility to her sister, Casey.
The Saturday, February 18 afternoon matchup against Cardinal Stritch will be broadcasted live on WXAV.com or 88.3 FM beginning at 12:45 PM.
Mike Rankin
Senior Sports Editor