Xavier wins again; Turnbull ties career scoring high
For immediate release . . . February 1, 2007
Box Score

NEW ORLEANS — Erica Turnbull scored 17 points Thursday to tie her career high and lead NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 69-49 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Spring Hill at The Barn.

Jarryn Cleaves added 12 points and Dominee Matthews 11 for the Gold Nuggets (17-6 overall, 9-1 GCAC), who won for the 10th time in 11 games and clinched their sixth consecutive winning season and their 14th in 15 seasons.

Xavier, the GCAC leader by a game over Loyola, led 37-24 at halftime and twice by 24 points in the final three minutes.

Keisha Forbes scored 15 points and Rashanda Bolton 14 for Spring Hill (4-14, 4-6), which lost to Xavier for the ninth consecutive time and second time in three weeks.

Xavier outshot the Lady Badgers 48 to 42 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 36-22. The Nuggets' shooting percentage was a season high.

Also contributing for the Nuggets were LaTashia Wise and Rynika Hebert with nine points apiece and Brittney Abernathy with eight. Wise recorded career highs for points and assists (5), and Abernathy tied her career scoring high. Point guard Alissa Thompson, starting for the first time since mid-November, had six assists and a career-high-tying five steals.

Xavier entered the game with only six scholarship players available because of injuries. But walk-ons LaShelle Brawner and Karmynah Helaire, who joined the team this week, combined for 22 minutes, one point, one assist and two steals and gave their new teammates some needed rest. Brawner and Helaire spent the final 7:16 in the game.

The Nuggets extended their winning streak at The Barn against GCAC opponents to 31 games. They've won 56 of their last 62 GCAC games and 45 of their last 46 games at The Barn.

Xavier's next game will start at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Tougaloo at The Barn.