Gold Nuggets rally in second half, extend win streak to 6

NEW ORLEANS -- Danielle Tucker, Paige Gauthier and Whitney Gathright sparked a decisive second-half run Tuesday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 65-51 women's basketball victory against Faulkner in the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (10-5) won their sixth in a row, including both games in this four-team, two-day event.

Xavier trailed 42-36 with 14:22 remaining, then outscored Faulkner 18-1 during the next nine minutes. Tucker scored seven points, Gauthier five and Gathright four during the run.

Gathright finished with 15 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Tucker scored 14 points, and Gauthier had nine points, four assists and a career-high and Xavier Classic-record-tying seven steals. Emoni Harvey had career bests of eight points and five steals, and Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored eight points, all in the first half.

Christina Hayes had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Faulkner (4-7), and M.C. Bell scored 13. The Lady Eagles, who were 2-0 against Xavier this past season, lost both their games in the event.

Faulkner outshot Xavier 37.5 to 32.8 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets dominated at the line, making 23-of-31 free throws to the Lady Eagles' 12-of-18. Xavier committed 21 turnovers and gained 32, nine during the second-half rally.

Faulkner led 32-31 at halftime.

It's the first time since the 1998-99 season that the Gold Nuggets won six in a row after losing their previous three games. Xavier has won 11 in a row at home, all by 12 or more points.

Mobile defeated LSU-Shreveport 66-54 in the other Tuesday game. Both teams finished 1-1 in the Xavier Classic.

Xavier, the three-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season champion, will play its GCAC opener at 3 p.m. Saturday against Fisk in Nashville, Tenn. The Gold Nuggets' next home game will start at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 against GCAC and city rival SUNO.

Box score

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