LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Jas Hill made 1-of-2 free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining Monday to give Xavier University of Louisiana a 59-58 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Philander Smith.
The Gold Nuggets (13-5, 3-0) won in Mims Gymnasium for the first time after five consecutive losses dating to 2014. Overall it was XULA's eighth victory in its last 10 games.
Hill scored 12 points, Essence Wells nine and Caprice Taylor eight for XULA, which trailed 28-24 at halftime and spent about 5 1/2 minutes with the lead. Hill, Maya Trench and Mikayla Bates grabbed six rebounds apiece, and Taylor had five steals.
Hill, Wells and Taylor each made a pair of 3-pointers.
Briauna Mitchell scored 15 points and Terralyn Dominick 10 for the Lady Panthers (11-9, 2-2). Dominick, the GCAC Player of the Year last season, was 3-of-15 from the floor and committed eight turnovers.
XULA shares first place in the GCAC with defending champion Dillard.
XULA will play host to GCAC opponent Edward Waters at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Convocation Center.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball erased a 21-point second-half deficit before losing 70-67 in overtime Monday to Philander Smith.
The Gold Rush (9-8, 1-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) will play twice at home this week: 7 p.m. Thursday against Oakwood in a non-league game, then 5 p.m. Saturday against GCAC rival Edward Waters.
XULA trailed 31-16 at halftime and 41-20 with 13:42 remaining in the second half, but the Gold Rush rallied and forced overtime when Rayshawn Mart made a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2.8 seconds remaining. That tied the score at 57.
XULA led 64-61 in overtime after Mart's layup with 90 seconds remaining, then the Panthers (5-13, 2-2) scored nine of the final 12 points and took the lead for good, 66-64, on Jaylon Bardley's basket with 22 seconds remaining.
Mart scored 20 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Damani Flanagainscored nine points and William Loyd eight for XULA.
Dejalin Austin scored 21 points, Bardley 13 and Na'Quon Cothron 12 for Philander Smith.
The teams combined to miss 30 free throws. XULA was 23-of-37 from the line and missed five in the final five minutes of regulation.
The Gold Rush are 0-2 this season in overtime and 5-3 in games decided by four points or fewer.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold