SHREVEPORT, La. — Sophomore guard Whitney Gathright scored 15 points Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 63-58 women's basketball victory against LSU-Shreveport in the LSUS Classic.
The Gold Nuggets (3-2), ranked 15th in NAIA Division I, also got 13 points from Vinnie Briggs and a career-high-tying 12 points from Chelsea Broussard to snap a two-game losing streak and defeat the 25th-ranked Lady Pilots (3-1).
Gathright scored 11 first-half points, including a 3-pointer in the second minute to give Xavier a 7-0 lead. The Nuggets led 35-26 at halftime and for the game spent all but 53 seconds with the lead.
Gathright scored in double figures for the fourth time in five games. She did it just once as a freshman.
Byroneshia Santiago had 22 points and nine rebounds for LSUS, and Dominique Taylor scored 11.
The Lady Pilots opened the second half with a 14-4 run and took their only lead, 40-39, on Victoria Smith's 3-point play with 12:40 remaining. But Xavier answered with a 14-3 run, taking the lead for good on Taylor Norman's basket at 12:25 and capping the burst with consecutive Broussard baskets.
LSUS was within two points twice in the final four minutes, but four Xavier steals — two by Gathright and one apiece by Broussard and Danielle Tucker — preserved the victory.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. Xavier was plus-7 on turnovers and had a season-high 18 steals. Carmen produced a career-high seven steals, five in the second half, and Paige Gauthier had a season-high five steals.
Xavier will play Texas College at noon next Saturday at XU's Convocation Center in the opener of a homecoming doubleheader.
Box score
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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