MARIETTA, Georgia -- Xavier University of Louisiana's eight-game winning streak in women's basketball ended Tuesday in a 73-63 loss to Southern Poly.
Shana Ward scored a season-high 17 points for the Hornets (7-4), and Sarah Ogoke had 14.
Whitney Gathright scored 19 points, Vinnie Briggs 18 and Danielle Tucker 13 for the Gold Nuggets (12-6).
Both teams had first-runs. Southern Poly led 11-2 through the first 3½ minutes, Xavier led 20-12 and 23-15, then the Hornets closed with an 8-1 run in the final 3:36 for a 32-29 halftime advantage.
There were nine ties and six lead changes in the second half. Tucker's basket with 8:15 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 52-50. Ward's basket with eight minutes remaining tied the score at 52, then Quentessa Bullock's basket -- her first points of the game -- put the Hornets ahead to stay, 54-52, at 6:20.
It was still a one-possession game at 59-56 after Gathright's two free throws with 2:06 remaining, but Southern Poly made 10-of-13 free throws thereafter to preserve its lead and snap a four-game losing streak.
Southern Poly outshot Xavier 45.3 to 37.3 percent from the floor and won the rebound and turnover battles by narrow margins. The Hornets missed their only 3-point attempt but made five more field goals and three more free throws than the Nuggets.
Gathright and Briggs produced their highest-scoring games in more than a month. Gathright scored 13 second-half points.
Xavier blocked a season-high six shots.
It was the third road game in four days for the Gold Nuggets, who opened their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference schedule with victories on Saturday and Monday. Xavier will begin a four-game home stand at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against GCAC and city rival SUNO at the Convocation Center.
NOTES: The Nuggets received votes in the NAIA Division I coaches poll announced Tuesday but missed the top 25 for the second straight time after 45 consecutive appearances. Xavier received five points and was 34th. The Gold Nuggets ranked 15th and Southern Poly 20th in the preseason.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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