Gold Nuggets win eighth in a row, second in conference

DENMARK, South Carolina -- Whitney Gaston-Loyd's 14 points and Danielle Tucker's season-high-tying 11 rebounds helped Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 60-47 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Voorhees on Monday.The Gold Nuggets (12-5, 2-0) have an eight-game win streak. They've won 12 straight GCAC games dating to last season.

Gaston-Loyd made 7-of-10 from the floor in 19 minutes, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a shot. Tucker reached double figures in rebounds for the third time this season, scored five points and had a season-high-tying three assists.

Twelve Nuggets scored, including Vinnie Briggs with nine points. Taylor Norman had three assists and matched career highs with six points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Kritofia Smart led Voorhees (6-7, 0-2) with 13 points, and Miasha Hackett had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Xavier limited Amber Johnson, who entered the game averaging 19.3 points, to a season-low six points in 38 minutes.

Xavier led 34-22 at halftime. Briggs was 2-of-2 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line to lead the Nuggets with eight first-half points.

The Nuggets outshot the Lady Tigers 35.5 to 28 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 50-36. Voorhees made 16-of-44 free throws -- 11-of-27 in the second half -- and Xavier made 14-of-26.

It was the first-ever meeting between the Nuggets and Voorhees, which joined the GCAC in July.

The Nuggets will stay on the road and visit Southern Poly in a non-conference game at 6 p.m. EST Tuesday. Their next home game will start at 3 p.m. Saturday against GCAC and city rival SUNO at the Convocation Center.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA