Friday, December 1, 2017

Wells 3-pointer helps Nuggets hold off Generals 51-48

NEW ORLEANS — An Essence Wells 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining Wednesday put Xavier University of Louisiana ahead to stay in a 51-48 women's basketball victory against LSU-Alexandria at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (3-2) have won three straight, two against the Generals (0-2). It was the second consecutive game that XULA allowed fewer than 50 points.

Wells's trey, her second of the game, gave XULA a 50-48 lead. Maya Trench made 1-of-2 free throws with eight seconds remaining for the final points. LSUA's Jenna Mabile missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Trench and Ireyon Keith scored 10 points apiece for XULA, and Mikayla Bates grabbed 10 rebounds. Katie Lemieux and Nakendria Wilson scored 13 points apiece for LSUA, and Lemieux had a career-high 12 rebounds. Mabile had five assists and four steals.



Trench had seven rebounds and four assists. Bates had three assists and three steals. Keith's points were a season high. Wells tied her career high with four assists. Jayla Nichols scored a season-best eight points, and she and Gina Smith grabbed five rebounds apiece.

XULA won despite being outshot 37.3 to 28.4 percent from the floor. The Gold Nuggets outrebounded an opponent for the first time this season, winning the boards 47-37. XULA was plus-5 in turnovers, committing 18 and gaining 23.

The Gold Nuggets led 10-4 after one quarter, 25-19 at halftime and 39-35 through three quarters. XULA nearly won wire-to-wire for the third straight game, but the score was tied four times in the fourth quarter, and the Generals led by a point twice in the final four minutes ̬ the second time at 48-47 after Wilson's basket with 49 seconds remaining. But Wilson's 2-pointer was LSUA's only score in its final six possessions.

It was the first game in 15 days for the Gold Nuggets, who will play twice more at home this week: 6 p.m. Friday against Georgetown (Ky.) and 5 p.m. Saturday against NAIA No. 13 Our Lady of the Lake.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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