FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — For the Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team, it was close-but-no-victory again in the Cruzin Classic.The Gold Nuggets lost 54-48 to Georgetown (Ky.) Friday to finish 0-2 in this event for the second consecutive year. Xavier's average losing margin in the four games: 3 1/2 points.
Xavier (9-4), ranked ninth in NAIA Division I, shot 26.5 percent from the floor, made 7-of-9 free throws — its second-fewest attempts of the season — and was outrebounded 49-34 overall, 25-15 in the second half. It was the fourth time this season the Gold Nuggets shot less than 30 percent, and the rebound deficit was their worst since November 2013. Xavier made five 3-pointers, all in the second half, but shot a season-low 21.7 percent from behind the arc.
After trailing 9-5 after the first quarter, Xavier rallied to lead 19-18 at halftime. But the Gold Nuggets led for only two minutes in the second half, and unranked Georgetown (6-6) dominated at the line, making 17-of-18 free throws in the final two quarters to Xavier's 4-of-5.
Freshman Joi Simmons scored 19 points, 13 in the second half, and led the Nuggets for the second time this season. There were no other XU double-figure scorers. Whitney Gathright scored eight points, and freshman Bianca Brown had a career-high six, all in the first half.
Xavier had a season-high 19 steals. Gathright's five matched her career high, and freshman Mikayla Bates' five were a career best.
Jessica Foster scored 12 points for Georgetown. Haley Armstrong and Teonia McClure scored nine apiece for the Tigers — Armstrong blocked five shots, the most by an XU individual opponent this season — and Emilie Ziese had eight points and 13 rebounds. Georgetown shot 31.3 percent from the floor, made 21-of-24 free throws, committed 30 turnovers and overcame a minus-11 turnover margin.
Simmons' 3-pointer with 8:24 remaining — it was her third of the game, a career best — gave the Gold Nuggets their final lead, 38-36. Georgetown then scored the next eight points and took the lead for good on two Ziese free throws at 6:54.
Xavier lost 75-74 in overtime Thursday to Indiana Wesleyan, ranked ninth in NAIA Division II. The Gold Nuggets lost by four to Briar Cliff and by three to Northwood (Fla.) &38212; which has since been renamed to Keiser — in the 2014 Cruzin Classic.
The two-game losing streak is Xavier's first of the season. For the second straight game, the Gold Nuggets denied Bo Browder his 400th victory as Xavier's head coach. Browder is 399-146 in his 17th season.
The Gold Nuggets will break for Christmas, then resume their schedule at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29 at NCAA Division I's Northwestern State. The next XU home game will start at 3 p.m. Jan. 2 against NAIA No. 22 LSU-Shreveport at the Convocation Center.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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