Wells chosen preseason All-GCAC; Nuggets picked 3rd

NEW ORLEANS — Essence Wells, the leading scorer for Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball a year ago, has been named to the preseason All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team in a poll of the league's head coaches.
     
The coaches also picked the Gold Nuggets to finish third in the GCAC.
     
Wells, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Irving, Texas, and a graduate of MacArthur High School, was second-team All-GCAC last season. She averaged 10.2 points in 2017-18 and led the Gold Nuggets with 41 made 3-pointers and 77 made free throws.
     
"Essence Wells showed major improvement last season," said 20th-year head coach Bo Browder. 

"We expect her this year to have another outstanding season."
     
The Gold Nuggets will open their season Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. against Stillman at XULA's Convocation Center. The XULA women will play their first four games at home, including the Xavier Classic Nov. 2-3 with Florida Memorial, Langston and LSU-Alexandria, then a Nov. 6 visit from city rival Loyola, ranked 17th in NAIA Division I.

GCAC Women's Basketball 2018-19 Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Rank	School
1	Dillard (6)
2	Edward Waters
3	XULA
4	Talladega (1)
5	Philander Smith
6	Tougaloo
7-tie	Rust
7-tie	SUNO

XULA in previous GCAC polls
2017-18 — 2nd-tie 2016-17 — 3rd 2015-16 — 1st 2014-15 — 1st 2013-14 — 1st 2012-13 — 1st 2011-12 — 1st 2010-11 — 1st 2009-10 — 2nd		2008-09 — 1st 2007-08 — 2nd 2006-07 — 3rd 2004-05 — 1st 2003-04 — 2nd 2002-03 — 2nd 2001-02 — 1st 1999-2000 — 1st 1993-94 — 1st

2018-19 Preseason All-GCAC Women's Basketball
Player	School
Jermisha Collins	Edward Waters
Terralyn Dominick	Philander Smith
Adriiana Jackson	Dillard
Alyssa Washington	Dillard
Essence Wells	XULA
GCAC Preseason Player of the Year:  Terralyn Dominick, Philander Smith

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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