Xavier Gold Nuggets earn first top-10 ranking since 2005

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana, aided by consecutive home victories against preseason ranked teams, climbed one spot to 10th Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. It's the first time since Feb. 8, 2005, that the Gold Nuggets have been among the top 10.

This is the first poll since the NAIA announced preseason rankings Oct. 23. The next two polls will be announced Dec. 11 and Jan. 8.

The Gold Nuggets (6-1) beat then-19th-ranked LSU-Shreveport 46-45 on Nov. 19, then defeated then-No. 14 Langston 46-38 three days later. LSUS is No. 17 in the new poll, but Langston received no votes. Xavier's loss was 62-50 at home Nov. 17 to Westminster (Utah), which was preseason No. 5 but climbed to fourth.

Xavier is in the top 25 for the 33rd consecutive time dating to January 2010. It's the Nuggets' longest top-25 streak since 34 straight polls from Jan. 13, 2003-March 8, 2005.

Future opponents in the top 25 are No. 13 Bethel (Tenn.) and No. 25 Faulkner. Xavier will play Faulkner on Dec. 29 in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Montgomery, Ala., and Bethel on Jan. 2 at XU's new Convocation Center. Lubbock Christian is No. 1 for the second consecutive time.

Coupled with Xavier's No. 13 position in the new men's poll, it's the first time since Feb. 7, 2011 -- and just the second time since the start of the 2004-05 season -- that both XU basketball teams are among the NAIA's top 13.

Both XU teams will play city rival Loyola on Wednesday at the Convocation Center. The women's game will tip off at 5:30 p.m., and the men's game will start at 7:30 p.m.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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