Gold Nuggets drop home exhibition to SEC member Auburn

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana began a challenging stretch of its women's basketball schedule with a 77-58 loss Wednesday to Auburn at XULA's Convocation Center.
     
Auburn was the first of four NCAA Division I opponents in five games for the Gold Nuggets, who counted this game as an exhibition. But the Tigers (5-1) counted it in their records and statistics, and the result was the 250th career head-coaching victory for Terri Williams-Flournoy.
     
Emari Jones made 4-of-6 3-pointers and scored 16 points for Auburn. Unique Thompson had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Daisa Alexander had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and made 3-of-3 3-pointers, and Janiah McKay had nine points and seven assists.
     
Jas Hill made 3-of-5 3-pointers and scored 13 points for XULA, a longtime NAIA power, and Nahrie Pierce scored 10. Kyla Duncan and Maya Trench grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Mikayla Bates had four assists.
     
Auburn led 39-30 at halftime and led by 20 points twice in the final six minutes.
     
Williams-Flournoy is 250-196 in 15 seasons overall as a head coach, 107-92 in her seventh season at Auburn.
     
Auburn is the first SEC team in any sport to play a countable contest against XULA on XULA's campus.
     
XULA (7-3) will visit NCAA DI Southeastern Louisiana (4-1) at 6 p.m. Friday, and both teams will count it in their records and statistics. The Gold Nuggets' next home game will tip off at 6 p.m. Monday against Mobile.
     
NOTES:  Why did an SEC team visit an NAIA school? XULA head coach Bo Browder explains: "One of my assistant coaches, Tarniesha Scott, has known one of the Auburn assistants, Adrian Walters, for quite some time. Auburn approached us late in scheduling last season. They needed to fill a spot. We helped out Auburn, and they promised to play a second game at our place this season." . . . XULA's final two DI opponents will be Dec. 15 at Louisiana-Lafayette and Dec. 16 at home against North Texas. XULA will play North Texas as an exhibition opponent and count the game at the Ragin' Cajuns in its records and statistics. However, the Cajuns' online schedule lists XULA as an exhibition opponent.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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