Griffins give Gold Nuggets a rare home defeat

The 2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team.
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 COACHES 

NEW ORLEANS -- Cydney Tibbits scored 21 points Saturday to lead Westminster (Utah) to a 62-50 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of a ranked NAIA Division I women's basketball teams.

The Griffins (4-1), ranked fifth, gave the No. 11 Gold Nuggets (2-1) their first loss in three games in their new Convocation Center. Xavier entered with 124 victories in its past 132 home games and an active home streak of 12 straight.

Westminster has won four in a row.

Tibbits, who played all 40 minutes, was 7-of-10 from the floor, made 2-of-3 3-pointers and 5-of-5 free throws. She grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and had three assists.

Nicole Yazzie had 11 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Griffins, who outshot the Gold Nuggets 52.5 to 39.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 32-20. Both teams shot free throws well, but Westminster made 13-of-15 to Xavier's 7-of-8.

Andraquay Quinnine and Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored 12 points apiece for Xavier, and Danielle Tucker had 10. SiMon Franklin, who scored a career-best 18 points Tuesday against Spring Hill, had six points and was 3-of-12 from the floor.

Yazzie's 3-pointer at 15:41 of the first half put Westminster ahead to stay at 5-4. The Griffins built the lead to 26-10 before Xavier cut the margin to 29-24 at halftime.

But Westminster scored the first seven points of the second half, led 47-29 after Amy Krommenhoek's basket, then scored the game's final nine points after Carmen Holcombe's two free throws at 1:54 reduced the lead to 53-50.

Tucker's basket at 18:03 of the first half gave Xavier its only lead, 4-2.

Westminster committed 23 turnovers, eight more than Xavier, but was credited with assists on all 21 of its field goals.

Xavier, in a stretch of three consecutive games against ranked opponents, will play NAIA No. 19 LSU-Shreveport at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Convocation Center.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUSIANA
XULAATHLETICS