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| Whitney Gathright 5'-4 Junior Guard Hometown: New Orleans, LA |
The Gold Nuggets (8-8, 1-0) ended a four-game losing streak and limited the Lady Tornadoes (7-7, 1-1) to their fewest points at home since Dec. 3, 2012.
Gathright, who scored a season-low six points in Xavier's previous game, was 6-of-9 from the floor, 2-of-3 on 3-pointers and 4-of-4 from the line. The junior point guard had five rebounds and four assists.
After five ties and nine lead changes in the second half, Hopkins put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 53-51, with a 3-pointer with 5:48 remaining. Baskets by Gathright and Hopkins in the 38th minute gave Xavier a 61-55 lead.
Gathright and Vinnie Briggs each made a pair of free throws in the final eight seconds.
Briggs and Daylin Boatner scored 11 points apiece -- Boatner, a freshman, reached double figures for the first time at Xavier -- and Hopkins and Donyeah Mayfield each scored nine. Emoni Harvey grabbed a career-best nine rebounds, and Briggs had eight rebounds.
Tajanee Wells led Talladega with 24 points and nine rebounds. Shakeena Benton scored 10 points, and Ella Rodriguez grabbed 10 rebounds.
Xavier committed a season-low 11 personal fouls and outshot Talladega 42.4 to 31.4 percent from the floor.
Xavier has won 22 of its last 23 conference openers. The Gold Nuggets won at Talladega for the first time since Jan. 7, 2002.
Xavier will play city rival Loyola (12-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at XU's Convocation Center. The Wolf Pack women are ranked eighth in the NAIA.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
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