NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana rallied in the fourth quarter Monday to grab a 45-40 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory at The Castle.
The Gold Nuggets (17-5, 7-0) trailed 34-28 through three quarters, then outscored the Lady Knights 17-6 in the final period to maintain sole possession of first place in the conference.
Nahrie Pierce had 11 points and 11 rebounds — her first XULA double-double and the Nuggets' second this season. Essence Wells and Da'Jha Virgil scored nine points apiece, Mikayla Bates grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, and Kyla Duncan blocked three shots for a career best.
A Wells 3-pointer with 6:42 remaining put XULA ahead to stay at 38-36.
SUNO never got the ball back after Wells stole Kennedy Moore's inbound pass with 1:06 remaining and XULA leading 44-40. The Gold Nuggets played keepaway in the final minute thanks to two offensive rebounds, the second by Pierce.
Moore had 10 points and seven rebounds for SUNO (6-16, 1-7). Andriel Moss had nine points and 12 rebounds, and Kira Mercado produced six points, five rebounds and five blocks.
Both teams struggled offensively — XULA shot 21.2 percent from the floor (14-of-66) and 52.6 percent from the line (10-of-19), and SUNO shot 27.9 from the floor (12-of-43) and 50 percent from the line (11-of-22). XULA committed 20 turnovers but gained 30. Bates and Wells had four steals apiece.
XULA led 21-18 at halftime, then the Lady Knights seized momentum by outscoring the Gold Nuggets 16-7 in the third quarter. But SUNO was 1-of-11 from the floor in the fourth quarter.
XULA leads the GCAC by a half-game over Talladega (21-3, 7-1) and a game over defending champion Dillard (15-7, 6-1). The Gold Nuggets will travel to Talladega for their next game at 3 p.m. Saturday.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold
NEW ORLEANS — William Loyd's shot-clock-beating layup with 58 seconds remaining Monday put Xavier University of Louisiana ahead to stay in a 66-63 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against SUNO at The Castle.
The XULA men (13-9, 4-3) have won four of their last five games.
Loyd had a busy final minute. After his go-ahead basket, he blocked a Ray Anderson shot on the next possession, then closed the scoring with two free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining. Anderson missed a 3-pointer on the final possession.
Loyd and Damani Flanagain scored 16 points apiece for the Gold Rush. Flanagain's total was a season high.
Anderson and Marcel Daniels scored 12 points apiece for the Knights (7-16, 1-7 GCAC), and Dimitri Cook had 11.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor. XULA made 17-of-21 free throws for a season-high 81 percent.
Half of XULA's games this season have been decided by four points or fewer. XULA is 7-4 in those games.
XULA will stay on the road for three out-of-town games in five days — 7 p.m. Thursday at Oakwood in Huntsville, Ala., 5 p.m. Saturday at Talladega in Talladega, Ala., and 7:30 p.m. EST next Monday at Edward Waters in Jacksonville, Fla. Talladega and Edward Waters are GCAC opponents.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold
