Xavier women hold off Tuskegee
For immediate release . . . December 1, 2006
Box Score

GRAMBLING, La. — Jarryn Cleaves scored 16 points Friday, including four free throws in final 11 seconds, to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 62-57 women's basketball victory against Tuskegee in the Lady Tiger Classic.

Erica Turnbull scored 14 points, and Rynika Hebert had a season-high 10 for the Gold Nuggets (6-3). Dominee Matthews grabbed six rebounds.

Xavier, which led 25-22 at halftime, shot 35 percent from the floor and got outrebounded 43-29, but the Nuggets committed a season-low 12 turnovers and gained 23.

Tuskegee (1-3) spent about four minutes with the lead, all in the first half. The Tigerettes led 21-16 with 3:57 remaining, but Hebert scored four points and Carla Robinson hit a 3-pointer during a 9-1 Xavier run to close the period.

Turnbull made two free throws with 10:18 remaining to give Xavier its biggest lead, 41-28, but Tuskegee rallied and cut the margin to 56-55 on Nadia Jones' 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining. Xavier then went 6 of 6 from the line — two by Alissa Thompson and the last four by Cleaves — to secure the victory.

Aisha Johnson scored 16 points and Crystal Benton 10 for Tuskegee.

Xavier will stay on the road and play Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m. EST Monday. All five of the Nuggets' December games will be on the road.