Gold Nuggets win at Edward Waters in GCAC opener

2012-13 GOLD NUGGETS
ROSTER

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Paige Gauthier's 12 points and career-high 11 rebounds led NAIA No. 9 Xavier University of Louisiana in a 77-59 women's basketball victory Saturday against Edward Waters. It was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

The Gold Nuggets (11-2) won for the ninth time in 10 games. They trailed 11-5 after seven minutes but outscored the Lady Tigers 34-18 to take a 39-29 halftime lead. It was Xavier's most first-half points since its opener Nov. 3. Jessica Savannah's basket at 5:30 put Xavier ahead to stay, 21-19.

Gauthier, a reserve junior guard, scored in double figures for a career-best third consecutive game. She had eight points, including two 3-pointers, and nine rebounds in the first half. Her previous high for rebounds in a game was eight. Gauthier is the only XU guard since the start of the 2003-04 season to record a double-double.

Carmen Holcombe also scored 12 points for Xavier — she reached double figures for the second straight game — and Danielle Tucker grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds. Talor Hixon had a season-high seven assists with no turnovers in 26 minutes.

Edward Waters (4-9) cut Xavier's lead to 49-44 after Amber Antoine's basket with 11:40 remaining, but the Nuggets outscored the Lady Tigers 28-15 thereafter. Gauthier hit her career-best third 3-pointer at 7:45 to make it 59-47 at 7:45.

Jacqui Harries and Daphne Walker led Edward Waters with 11 points each.

Xavier committed 14 turnovers to match a season low, outshot the Lady Tigers 40 to 35.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 66-36. The Nuggets grabbed their most rebounds in a game since the start of 2003-04.

Xavier won its GCAC opener for the 20th time in 21 seasons and is 37-2 in GCAC regular-season games since the start of 2009-10.

Xavier will remain on the road and play Talladega at 5 p.m. Monday. It will be a rematch of last season's GCAC Tournament final, which the Nuggets won for the third consecutive year. The Nuggets' next home game will start at 3 p.m. next Saturday against Tougaloo in XU's new Convocation Center.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, SID
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA