Gold Nuggets dig out a 60-57 victory against Dillard

WHITNEY GATHRIGHT
5'-4" Guard, Junior
Hometown: NEW ORLEANS, LA
HIGH SCHOOL: John Curtis Christian

NEW ORLEANS -- Whitney Gathright and Vinnie Briggs combined for 22 second-half points Saturday to help Xavier University of Louisiana rally for a 60-57 women's basketball victory against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic presented by Hotard Coaches at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (16-14, 9-5) rallied from a 29-25 halftime deficit to clinch second place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The teams were tied at 52 before Gathright made baskets with 2:03 and 1:23 remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay. Briggs made four straight free throws in the final 39 seconds, then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with seven seconds remaining. Dillard rebounded, and the Lady Bleu Devils' Shantrell Lumar rimmed out from 20 feet at the buzzer on a shot which would have sent the game to overtime.

Briggs, honored in a pregame Senior Day ceremony, finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in her fourth double-double of the season. Gathright had 15 points and a season-high eight assists, and Trana Hopkins scored 13 points, 10 in the first half.

Donyeah Mayfield had eight points and 10 rebounds for Xavier. She reached double-figure rebounds for the sixth time in seven games and the ninth time this season.

Ciara Morgan scored 11 points for Dillard (16-12, 8-6), and Lumar and Alena Evans scored 10 points apiece.

Xavier scored the first nine points of the second half. Dillard's last lead was 42-41 on Morgan's 3-pointer with 11:32 remaining.

Dillard shot 37.5 percent from the floor, and Xavier shot 37 percent. The Gold Nuggets outrebounded the Lady Bleu Devils 41-29. Dillard missed 11 free throws, four in the final 3 1/2 minutes.

Xavier will be the No. 2 seed in the GCAC Tournament and will play Friday at Dillard's Dent Hall in the quarterfinals. Time and opponent have not been announced. The final two women's rounds and all three men's rounds will be played at the Convocation Center. The women's tournament winner will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Division I National Championship, which will begin March 18 at Independence, Mo.

Xavier is the defending GCAC Tournament champion.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director  XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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