After 2 straight losses, Nuggets fall from 20th to 23rd

NEW ORLEANS — Two consecutive losses moved Xavier University of Louisiana down but not out of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 on Tuesday.
   
The Gold Nuggets (17-8, 7-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) dropped from 20th to 23rd. It's the fourth consecutive week and the 49th time in the last 52 polls that Xavier is in the top 25.
   
The other GCAC team in the top 25 is Talladega, which climbed from 22nd to 20th.
   
Vanguard received 9-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the eighth time in as many polls this season. Vanguard and No. 2 Freed-Hardeman are the only unbeaten teams in the division. It's the fourth consecutive week that Vanguard, Freed-Hardeman and Westminster (Utah) rank 1-2-3.
   
New rankings will be announced February 18.
   
Xavier visited William Carey in a non-conference game Tuesday. The Gold Nuggets will play at home at 5:30 p.m. Monday against GCAC opponent Philander Smith at the Convocation Center.

The top 25:

1. Vanguard
2. Freed-Hardeman
3. Westminster (Utah)
4. Campbellsville
5. Oklahoma Baptist
6. Oklahoma City
7. The Master's
8. Georgetown (Ky.)
9. Our Lady of the Lake
10. Westmont
11. Wiley
12. Columbia (Mo.)
13. MidAmerica Nazarene
14. Baker
15. Hope International
16. (tie) Lewis-Clark State
16. (tie) John Brown
18. Bethel (Tenn.)
19. Montana State-Northern
20. Talladega
21. Cumberlands
22. Martin Methodist
23. Xavier
24. Central Methodist
25. LSU-Shreveport

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