Saturday, February 13, 2016

Gold Nuggets clamp down on Lady Crusaders, win 59-33


NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright scored 10 points Thursday in her most-accurate shooting performance of the season, and Xavier University of Louisiana led wire-to-wire for the second time in three games in a 59-33 women's basketball victory against William Carey.
    
The Gold Nuggets (16-9) snapped a two-game home losing streak. They need one victory to clinch their 15th consecutive winning season.
    
Gathright, scoring in double figures for the sixth straight game and a team-leading 19th time this season, was 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 on 3-pointers in 22 minutes. The senior guard grabbed five rebounds and had two assists and a steal.
    
Kiera Robinson, Donyeah Mayfield and Trana Hopkins scored nine points apiece for Xavier, which led 18-5 after nine minutes and limited the Lady Crusaders (7-12) to single-digit points in 3-of-4 quarters. Robinson's three blocked shots and Hopkins' five rebounds matched their career highs, and Mayfield grabbed 10 rebounds to reach double figures for the third consecutive game and the eighth time this season.
    
Emoni Harvey had four assists for Xavier, and Hopkins had three.
  
Jacquonna Young had 10 points and six rebounds for William Carey, which has lost six straight and nine of its last 11 games.
    
Xavier outshot William Carey 40.7 to 26.7 percent from the floor and improved to 12-0 this season when it's more accurate than opponents. The Gold Nuggets had a 49-24 rebound advantage, and the margin was a season best.
    
Xavier allowed its fewest-ever points in the Convocation Center, which opened in 2012, and allowed its fewest points in a game since December 2013 and its fewest in a home game since January 2012. Xavier won at home against William Carey for the 22nd consecutive time, and the winning margin was its largest against the Lady Crusaders since February 2003.
    
Xavier will play its final regular-season home game at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent SUNO at the Convocation Center. Gathright, Mayfield, Hopkins, Harvey, Amara Person-Hampton and Alesha Smith will be honored on senior night.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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