WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Slone Masters scored a season-high 29 points and made all 17 of her free throws Wednesday, leading Briar Cliff to a 64-60 basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the Cruzin Classic.
The Chargers (9-4) of Sioux City, Iowa, and NAIA Division II won their fourth in a row and snapped the five-game winning streak of the Gold Nuggets (7-5), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I.
Masters, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, scored 18 points and made 10 free throws to lead Briar Cliff to a 34-24 halftime advantage. Xavier closed the gap early in the second half but led only once in that period, at 55-54 on Donyeah Mayfield's basket with 1:46 remaining. Briar Cliff then scored the next six points, capping the run on Kaylee Blake's two free throws with 21 seconds remaining.
Trailing 60-58, Xavier had a chance to tie when it gained a turnover with 14 seconds remaining -- but the Nuggets committed a turnover six seconds later. Briar Cliff then made four free throws, the last two by Masters.
Masters grabbed 12 rebounds and had three steals and two blocks. Blake scored 11 points.
Whitney Gathright scored all 16 of her points in the second half for Xavier and led the Gold Nuggets with six rebounds and six assists. Vinnie Briggs and Alesha Smith scored 10 points apiece.
Briar Cliff dominated at the line, making 34-of-40 free throws to Xavier's 19-of-25.
Xavier, 0-3 at neutral sites this season, lost for the third time by four or fewer points.
Xavier will play its second and final game of the Cruzin Classic at 2 p.m. EST Thursday against Northwood (Fla.), the host school. Northwood is 1-4 and lost 80-64 Tuesday to Briar Cliff.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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