NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana used a 10-minute first-half run Saturday to earn a 65-47 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Philander Smith.
Andraquay Quinnine scored 13 points and SiMon Franklin 12 to lead the Gold Nuggets (13-4 overall, 3-2 GCAC), who are ranked 12th in NAIA Division I and bounced back from a Monday home loss to SUNO. The Lady Panthers (10-10, 1-4) have lost four in a row.
Philander Smith led 4-0 through the first two minutes, then the Gold Nuggets took control with a 24-2 burst in which they gained 18 turnovers, 12 by steals. Franklin scored eight points and capped the run with a basket to give Xavier a 24-6 lead at 8:07.
Xavier led 33-14 at halftime and maintained its double-digit lead throughout the second half -- but the Nuggets never led by more than 22, the last time after Whitney Gaston-Loyd's basket made it 56-34 with 7:44 remaining.
Gaston-Loyd had nine points and blocked two shots. Talor Hixon had six of Xavier's 26 steals, and Paige Gauthier led the Nuggets with seven rebounds and four assists.
Quinnine did not score until two free throws at 4:07 of the first half, and she made three 3-pointers in an 11-point second half. The Gold Nuggets are 6-0 this season when Quinnine leads the team in scoring.
Rubyunnia McHenry led Philander Smith with 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Jerricka Scott scored 14 points, and Kanesha Merritt had 13 points and six steals -- but she also committed 10 of the Lady Panthers' 33 turnovers.
Xavier outshot Philander Smith 35 to 30 percent from the floor -- the Lady Panthers missed all 10 of their 3-point attempts -- and had a 46-34 rebound advantage. The Nuggets committed a season-worst 31 turnovers, 17 in the second half.
Franklin needs eight points to become the 19th XU female to reach 1,000 in a career. She'll get her next shot Monday when Xavier plays Fisk at 3 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS
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