Nuggets 25th in NAIA coaches poll for 2nd straight week

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana is 25th -- the same position as a week ago -- in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25. The 10th rankings of the season were announced Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets (19-9 overall, 9-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) were tied for 25th last week with Mobile, but the Lady Rams moved to 24th. Falling out of the top 25 was Central Methodist, which was 20th last week.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the sixth consecutive week and the 51st time in the last 54 polls. This past week they were 2-0 with victories at home against Philander Smith (70-59) and Tougaloo (76-62).

Talladega climbed from 19th to 18th and is the GCAC's other top-25 team.

Vanguard, Freed-Hardeman and Westminster (Utah) rank 1-2-3 for the sixth consecutive week. Vanguard, No. 1 in every poll this season, is a unanimous choice for the second straight week.

The Gold Nuggets will close the regular season in a 3 p.m. Saturday game at conference and city rival Dillard, then play host to the GCAC Tournament from March 6-9.

New rankings will be announced next Tuesday.

The top 25:

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


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