Thursday, December 6, 2012

Gold Nuggets defeat Wolf Pack for fifth consecutive victory


NEW ORLEANS -- Paige Gauthier and Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored 12 points apiece Wednesday to lead NAIA No. 10 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 54-44 women's basketball victory against city rival Loyola at XU's Convocation Center.

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Gold Nuggets (7-1), who won despite being outscored 6-0 in each half.

Gauthier scored 10 first-half points and gave Xavier its first lead, 10-8, on a 3-pointer at 12:49 of the first half. The Gold Nuggets led 35-20 at halftime and took their biggest lead, 48-29, on Danielle Tucker's 3-pointer with 9:28 remaining.

Jasmine Brewer scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Rebekah Greer had 10 points for Loyola (3-6), which lost its third in a row and its fifth straight on the road. Loyola equaled its loss total of last season, when it reached the NAIA Division I National Championship.

Xavier outshot Loyola 35.1 to 27.9 percent from the floor and had a 39-32 rebound advantage. Sophomore guard Talor Hixon grabbed a season-high-tying eight rebounds to lead the Nuggets for the second time in three games.

Gauthier and Whitney Gathright each made two of Xavier's six 3-pointers.

The Nuggets lead the series 29-6 and have won all 16 meetings at Xavier.

After taking fall semester final exams, the Nuggets will travel to William Carey for a 6 p.m. game Dec. 14. It will be Xavier's first road game of the regular season. The next XU home game will be against NAIA No. 13 Bethel (Tenn.) at 2 p.m. Jan. 2.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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