SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Ireyon Keith's first career double-double, 17 points and 13 rebounds, rallied Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-67 women's basketball upset of NAIA No. 3 Our Lady of the Lake in the opening game of the LSUS Classic Friday.
Keith's free throw with 4:12 remaining put the Gold Nuggets (3-0) ahead to stay, 63-62. The redshirt sophomore from Tickfaw, La., closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining.
"Our defense was outstanding, and we were able to make some big shots down the stretch," XULA coach Bo Browder said. "We've been preaching work hard, work together, stay together and be positive at all times. It was a great win for our program."
Keith, who also had four assists and three steals, was XULA's only double-figure scorer. Freshman guard Rosie Davis scored nine points — she made 3-of-6 second-half 3-pointers and made back-to-back 3s to tie the score at 62 — and Bianca Brown scored eight. Another freshman guard, Maya Trench, had six assists, eight rebounds and — for the third consecutive game — five steals.
Keith, who did not start, entered the game with career averages of 3.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. She scored five times in double figures in 2014-15, then sat out last season because of an injury.
"I just felt like I had to go out there and bring the energy," Keith said. "As long as we win, I'm good."
Nakia Page scored a career-high 21 points, 17 in the first half, for OLLU (1-1). Three teammates scored nine points apiece.
An 8-1 run in the final 3:11 gave the Gold Nuggets a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Saints opened the next period with a 16-2 run and led 38-30 at halftime.
OLLU outshot XULA 38.7 to 31.7 percent from the floor. XULA outrebounded the Saints 64-49, and the Gold Nuggets grabbed their most rebounds in a game since January 2013.
Browder, in his 18th season, earned his first victory against an opponent ranked among the top three nationally. It was the second straight year that the Gold Nuggets came from behind to defeat a top-10 OLLU team in this event.
The Gold Nuggets will play LSU-Shreveport at 5 p.m. Saturday on the second and final day of this event. LSUS lost 49-46 to NAIA No. 9 Lyon after leading by 11 points through three quarters.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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