Nuggets crush Lady Bulldogs for 6th straight GCAC win

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore forward Gina Smith had career highs of 23 points and four blocked shots Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 76-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

Smith was 11-of-15 from the floor in 24 minutes and grabbed eight rebounds in the Gold Nuggets' sixth consecutive GCAC victory. Smith's previous point high was 14 as a freshman.

Mikayla Bates and Dasia Pitre scored 14 points apiece for XULA (13-11. 6-5). Bates and Maya Trench grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Trench had eight assists.

Debraia Bell had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs (10-15, 4-7), and Melissa Creese had nine points and six assists.

XULA led the final 37 1/2 minutes and built its largest lead, 76-42, on Nicole Swift's basket with three minutes remaining.

The Gold Nuggets outshot the Lady Bulldogs 45.9 to 34.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 51-25. XULA had eight first-half blocks and 11 for the game, its most since blocking 11 at Lee (Tenn.) on Nov. 15, 2008.

XULA will close the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday GCAC home game against Talladega, then play Friday in the GCAC Tournament first round at SUNO's The Castle.



Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold