SUNO upsets Gold Nuggets 58-56 in GCAC opening round

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Andriel Moss was the real deal Friday, producing 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead eighth-seeded SUNO to a 58-56 upset of top-seeded and 23rd-ranked Xavier University of Louisiana in the women's basketball first round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.
     
The Gold Nuggets (23-7), who won the GCAC regular-season championship, will be considered for an at-large bid to the NAIA Division I National Championship. The NAIA will announce the 32-team field and pairings Wednesday, and the tournament will begin March 13 in Billings, Mont.
    
Moss scored eight points during a 14-2 run that turned XULA's 43-41 lead into a 55-45 SUNO advantage with 4:35 remaining. A Moss basket at 7:25 put the Lady Knights (7-22) ahead to stay at 45-43, and an Asia Thibodeaux 3-pointer closed the rally.
     
Freshman Anica Gacevic, who made three second-half 3s for XULA, missed from 28 feet on the Gold Nuggets' final possession.
     
GCAC Player of the Year Jas Hill had 14 points and five steals for the Gold Nuggets. Gacevic scored nine, Essence Wells had eight points and three steals, and Mikayla Bates scored seven. Maya Trench had eight assists, three steals and no turnovers.
     
Moss, a 5-foot-11 senior forward in her second season at SUNO, tied her career point high.

BOX SCORE

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