The Saint Xavier women’s basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with a pair of statement wins. The Cougars went 2-0 this weekend behind a couple of dominant performances from Claire Austin.
In the upset win over No. 6 Morningside University on Friday evening, the senior forward notched 24 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks. Senior guards Sidney Lovitsch and Bri Flayter also had big games for the Cougars.
Lovitsch added 21 points and five rebounds, while Flayter flirted with a triple-double, tallying seven points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Cougars defeated the Mustangs 77-63 in a rematch of last year’s NAIA Opening Round Championship, which Morningside won 90-70. The win Friday also marked the first win for Travis Brewster as the head coach for the Cougars.
On Saturday, the Cougars jumped out the gate on a 13-2 run to start the game and never looked back. Austin shot an efficient 15-for-20 from the field on her way to a career-high 34 points. She also pulled down 10 rebounds to help lead the Cougars to a 95-82 victory over Briar Cliff University.
Flayter followed up her impressive first game with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. On the other hand, senior center McKenna Zobel scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
After a successful weekend beginning the season 2-0, the Cougars will now look to defend their back-to-back CCAC regular season championships. The Cougars are 32-1 in CCAC regular season play over the last two seasons, with the only loss coming to the University of Saint Francis late last season.
The Cougars begin CCAC conference play this upcoming Wednesday, November 10 at Governors State. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm CT.