Talladega beats Gold Nuggets for first-place tie in GCAC

MEGAN IlOFF
5-7 GUARD, JUNIOR
HOMETOWN: LOS ANGELES, CA
GAME HIGH SCORER: 18 POINTS,
7 Reb., 4 Assists

TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Megan Iloff scored 18 points Saturday to rally Talladega to a 68-62 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Lady Tornadoes (17-6 overall, 8-2 GCAC) moved into a first-place tie in the conference with the Gold Nuggets (18-8, 8-2), who lost for the third time in five games since winning nine in a row. Tougaloo (13-11, 8-3) missed a chance to take sole possession of first place when it lost 69-64 at Dillard.

Keldra Hall had 13 points and 11 rebounds -- her fourth double-double of the season and eighth in two years -- for Xavier, which led 34-33 at halftime. SiMon Franklin scored 12 points, and Jazmoné Kelly scored 10.

The Nuggets limited Iloff, Talladega's season scoring leader, to zero points and five turnovers in a 66-48 Xavier victory at The Barn on Jan. 21. But this time Iloff was 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line with with seven rebounds and four assists.

Bianca Thomas scored a season-high 17 points and was 7-of-9 from the floor for Talladega, and Ebony Richardson scored 10 in her ninth consecutive game in double figures.

"We should've been up 12 at halftime," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We didn't take care of business. We've been down this road before. It's really frustrating."

Talladega outshot Xavier 44.4 to 36.1 percent from the floor and limited the Nuggets to 1-of-12 on 3-pointers. Both teams made 17 free throws.

Tougaloo will visit Xavier at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Gold Nuggets' final game at The Barn, which opened in 1937. It will be senior night for Hall, Kelly, Jasmine Grant, Danielle Kennebrew and Brandi Young, who will be honored during a halftime ceremony.

BY ED CASSIERE, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS