Norris' buzzer shot beats 4th-ranked Montana Western
For immediate release . . . December 30, 2006
Box Score

LOS FRESNOS, Texas — Tiffany Norris' basket at the buzzer Saturday — her only points of the second half — gave Xavier University of Louisiana a 45-44 women's basketball victory against Montana Western on the final day of the South Padre Island Shootout.

The Gold Nuggets (8-5) trailed 14-2 after the first 8 1/2 minutes but rallied to give the Lady Bulldogs, ranked fourth in NAIA Division I, their first loss of the season.

"We played with a lot of heart and lot of focus," Xavier Coach Bo Browder said. "Our defense was terrific for the second straight day, and this time we got a nice reward for our work."

Xavier lost 47-44 to Westminster (Utah) on Friday after building a 12-point lead early in the second half.

Norris, who finished with nine points and made the all-tournament team, made the winning shot after Megan Schmitz made 1 of 2 free throws to give Montana Western (15-1) a 44-43 lead with seven seconds remaining.

Dominee Matthews led Xavier with 12 points and seven rebounds. Katherine Sunwall had 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks for Montana Western.

Xavier survived the Lady Bulldogs' early surge and used a 17-5 run — capped by Norris' 3-point play at 3:41 — to tie the score at 19. But Montana Western led 26-23 at halftime and never trailed in the 15 minutes prior to Norris' winning shot.

The Nuggets won despite shooting 28.4 percent from the floor, including 3 of 22 from 3-point range. Xavier limited Montana Western to 33.3-percent shooting, committed a season-low 11 turnovers and outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs 46-40.

"This should be a great confidence-builder for our team," Browder said. "We've had a few opportunities this season to close out games but couldn't get it done. It was great to see us play a solid 40 minutes."

Westminster defeated Paul Quinn 64-61 in Saturday's other game. Xavier's next game will start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Tougaloo in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both schools.