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| Photo Gallery: XU women's basketball vs. Philander Smith — at Xavier University Convocation Center photos by Yamlak Tsega #21 Vinnie Briggs 5'7" Senior Guard/Forward Hometown: Roxie, Ms. Franklin County High School (Copiah-Lincoln CC) |
Whitney Gathright had 14 points and Donyeah Mayfield 12 for the Gold Nuggets (9-9, 2-0 GCAC), who pulled away late to end a 3-game home losing streak.
The Lady Panthers (11-3, 1-1) rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit and were within single digits for the majority of the second half. It was 46-41 after Philander Smith's Jerrica Scott made two free throws with six minutes remaining.
But then Xavier -- which struggled offensively during its home defeats -- sealed the victory by scoring on its next six possessions. Gathright's 3-pointer with 3:51 remaining gave the Gold Nuggets a 53-45 lead, and two more Gathright baskets increased the margin to 59-45 with 1:45 remaining.
Vinnie Briggs added nine points for Xavier, and Emoni Harvey -- five days after her career-high nine rebounds in a GCAC victory at Talladega -- grabbed eight rebounds. Mayfield had seven rebounds, and sophomore Kelsee Singleton blocked a career-high five shots, four in the first half.
Harvey also had a game-high five assists and tied her career high.
Brittany Leonard scored 16 points for Philander Smith but also committed six of her team's 22 turnovers. Scott scored 15 points. Rubyunnia McHenry had 13 rebounds, six blocks and four steals, and her final block of the game gave her 200 in her career.
The Gold Nuggets led 11-4 after seven minutes and held their biggest lead, 23-9, after Gathright made two free throws at 8:33. But Xavier went scoreless for the final 7:15 of the first half, and Philander Smith trimmed the Nuggets' advantage to 25-21 by halftime.
Xavier outshot the Lady Panthers 35.6 to 28.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 45-39. The field-goal defense was the Gold Nuggets' best of the season, and they shot a season-high 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the line.
Xavier will visit Philander Smith on Feb. 14. Next for the Gold Nuggets will be a 5:30 p.m. Monday GCAC home game against Tougaloo.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
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