There is a lot of attention surrounding the Crosstown Shootout this weekend between both the Men’s and Woman’s basketball programs as they prepare for their annual Crosstown Shootout match up vs Xavier. However, for Katrina Merriweather this rivalry means a little more as she prepares to lead the Bearcats to victory ahead of Sunday’s Crosstown Shootout.
On Thursday night, fans piled into the Skyline downtown on Sycamore and Fourth Street for the annual Crosstown Shootout Tip-Off Dinner which featured appearances from Katrina Merriweather, Wes Miller, Sean Miller and Billi Chambers as the coaches of the respected programs previewed this highly anticipated rivalry. This is an event that takes place each year days before the annual Crosstown Shootout as people come together and talk basketball no matter if you’re a Cincinnati or Xavier fan.
“The community is the most important thing. because I think you play this rivalry because it gets everyone involved. We want people to come out and watch Woman’s basketball,” said Merriweather. “To include both our program in an event like this is awesome, because we know both Xavier and Cincinnati are growing programs on the Woman’s side as well. To include us in this event and get people involved in our game is amazing and we are very grateful for it.”
However, Xavier has a lot of things to overcome heading into this one as they have had to cancel their last two games vs Arizona State and Oakland due to not having enough available players. Billi Chambers and the Musketeers know they know have quite a bit of a challenge ahead of them after starting the season 0-7, but now have had to postpone their last two games and go on a weeklong pause heading into Sunday’s matchup.
“This matchup is tense already,” said Katrina Merriweather. “Xavier appears to have some things to overcome but I keep telling people that it doesn’t matter because we are going to get their best for forty minutes on Sunday. Injuries and wins don’t matter, every player will be playing like it’s the last play of the game.”
Meanwhile, the Bearcats are come off consecutive wins over Kentucky and Tennessee State and have really started to gel together following the Paradise Jam. The Bearcats built quite a bit of momentum following their dominating victory over Kentucky in the final game of the Paradise Jam vs Kentucky and have built quite a bit of momentum since as they enter the back half of non-conference play.
For Katrina Merriweather, this rivalry means a little more being a former Bearcat herself, playing in this fierce rivalry during her playing career where she helped guide the Bearcats to a 75-59 victory back in 2000 during her senior year. Since joining the coaching realm Merriweather following her playing career Merriweather is now 10-0 all time vs Xavier as a player, graduate assistant and head coach.
“I have not lost to Xavier, and I say I because, as a player, graduate assistant, assistant coach or head coach, I haven’t lost to Xavier,” Katrina Merriweather said. “So, Technically, Trina is 10-0, but the reason we don’t get into that very much is because it’s not important. What is important is that we are playing Bearcat basketball.”
The rivalry between both historic programs has definitely gained more steam since Merriweather’s playing career has ended as the community is much more involved now compared to her playing days. “I think it’s important that people understand the magnitude of this game,” said Merriweather. “I mean look at where we are, we have people rallied together at Skyline, enjoying great food, Cheerleaders here, you guys out here talking with us about this rivalry, which may be the coolest thing about it.”
The Bearcats will look to keep building off the momentum they build in the Virgin Islands heading into Sunday’s match as they currently ride a two-game winning streak. The Bearcats are currently led by Jillian Hayes as the senior forward is averaging a near double-double through the first seven games as she leads the Bearcats in scoring (12 ppg) while shooting nearly 54% from the floor. Hayes also leads the team in rebounding as she averages nearly 9 rebounds per game.
Hayes, has been the key piece for the Bearcats as many may know, but the guard play of Mya Jackson and Reagan Jackson has been important for the Bearcats over the last few games. Mya Jackson is currently Top 10 in the country in three-point percentage as the graduate guard is shooting nearly 48% from behind the arch. Meanwhile freshman Reagan Jackson has turned things up a notch the last three games after scoring 10 or more points in each game, including a career high 18 points vs Tennessee State in her first collegiate start.
Sunday’s Crosstown Shootout will be the first for many Bearcats as only six players from a season ago returned for the 2023-2024 season following the coaching change. A huge opportunity looms ahead of the Bearcats as the newcomers will now lean on the veterans to talk about what this rivalry really means for those who aren’t familiar with it.
The Bearcats will tip off at 2 pm on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena where Katrina Merriweather will look to remain perfect vs the Musketeers.
