XU Gold Nuggets win 70-47 in first of two in Puerto Rico

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico -- Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 70-47 women's basketball victory at

Gaston-Loyd, a senior center and an All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selection last season, recorded her second highest point total of the season and helped the Gold Nuggets (7-5) improve their win streak to a season-high three games.

Whitney Gathright had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for Xavier, Danielle Tucker scored 12 points and Chelsea Broussard had eight points and five rebounds for Xavier. The Nuggets' top four scorers were a combined 22-of-27 from the floor, including 8-of-9 by Gaston-Loyd and 6-of-7 by Gathright.

Xavier never trailed and pulled away after two ties for a 41-23 halftime lead. The Nuggets shot 51.4 percent from the floor in the opening half, with Gaston-Loyd and Gathright combining to make 10-of-11.

For the game Xavier outshot the Vaqueras 41.3 to 25.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 62-32. Freshman guard Taylor Norman led the Nuggets with a career-best eight rebounds, seven in the second half.

Paige Gauthier had five of Xavier's 13 steals and grabbed six rebounds.

Xavier had a 41-0 advantage in bench scoring.

Katia Torres scored 17 points and Roxairaly Armesto 15 for UPR-Bayamon, an NCAA Division II member. Xavier is an NAIA member.

Xavier will play American University of Puerto Rico at 4 p.m. AST Tuesday.
UPR-Bayamon.

Box score

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