Gathright, Hopkins rally Gold Nuggets past LSUS, 80-69

The 2014-15 Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team.

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SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Whitney Gathright scored 21 points and Trana Hopkins 17, both season highs, to rally NAIA No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana to an 80-69 women's basketball victory Sunday against LSU-Shreveport in the final game of the LSUS Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (2-3) gained a split of their two games in the four-team event and earned their first road victory of the season.

Gathright and Hopkins both went 2-for-2 from 3-point range during a decisive second-half run. Xavier trailed 48-44 with 16:38 remaining, then outscored the Lady Pilots 30-7 during the next 11 1/2 minutes to take a 74-55 lead. Gathright scored eight points, Hopkins seven and Eliqua Brooks five during the comeback.

Brooks finished with 13 points and a season-high-tying four steals, and Vinnie Briggs scored 12 points for Xavier. Kourtney Pennywell had 22 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for LSUS (1-1), Myeisha Williams scored 19, and Alexandra Miller had 11.

Xavier led 42-36 at halftime. There were nine ties and nine lead changes before a Brooks 3-pointer with 14:40 remaining put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 52-49.

Xavier reached 80 points for the first time this season. The Gold Nuggets shot a season-best 46.2 percent from the floor and limited LSUS to 36.8 percent. Xavier made a season-high seven 3-pointers, and Gathright and Hopkins both finished 3-of-4 from long range.

"We shot pretty well on the road and had some new players step up," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We did a much better job making free throws (76.5 percent) than we did yesterday. We're getting a little better each game."

Xavier blocked six shots, two apiece by Amara Person-Hampton and Kelsee Singleton.

Xavier beat LSUS for the third consecutive time and the eighth time in their last nine meetings. They'll meet again Dec. 29 in the Xavier Holiday Classic.

The Gold Nuggets will visit NCAA Division I's Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. Tuesday, then play Warner at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center during homecoming.

NOTES: NAIA No. 11 Our Lady of the Lake, a one-point winner Saturday against Xavier, defeated Lindenwood-Belleville 112-69 in Sunday's first game . . . Gathright reached 20 points for the fifth time at Xavier . . . It was the third straight game that the Gold Nuggets reached 70 points -- first time that's happened in five years . . . Brooks, Briggs and Gathright have scored in double figures four times apiece in five games . . . Brooks has made 11-of-22 3-pointers this season.

Box score


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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