Nuggets defeat Dillard 74-60, regain GCAC's top spot
January 28, 2012
Box score
NEW ORLEANS — Jasmine Grant had 17 points Saturday
to lead four Xavier University of Louisiana scorers in double figures in a
74-60 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Dillard
in the Crosstown Classic.
The Gold Nuggets (17-6 overall, 7-1 GCAC) won for the
10th time in 11 games and regained first place in the conference. They ended the
season-best six-game win streak of the Lady Bleu Devils (9-7, 6-1).
Xavier also assured itself of an 11th consecutive
winning season, which extends a program record. The Gold Nuggets will finish above
.500 for the 19th time in 20 seasons.
Keldra Hall had 15 points and eight rebounds for Xavier.
Jazmoné Kelly scored 11, and Paige Gauthier had a season-high 10.
Grant made four 3-pointers, two during a 26-6 run
which extended the Nuggets' 36-24 lead to 62-30 with 8:55 remaining. Also during
the burst Dalila Robinson and Gauthier made 3-pointers, and Brandi Young had
four of her five assists.
SiMon Franklin's streak of five games in double figures
for Xavier ended, but she had a career-high-tying five assists and a
career-best seven steals.
Ariel Mitchell scored 23 points for Dillard, 11
after the Nuggets built their 32-point lead. Lauren Daniel scored 10 points,
and Keylantra Taylor grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, But the Nuggets
limited Jazzmin Smith, the Lady Bleu Devils' No. 2 scorer this season,
to a season-low four points in 35 minutes.
Hall's basket in the third minute put Xavier ahead to
stay. The Gold Nuggets led 31-21 at halftime.
Dillard outshot Xavier 45.7 to 43.8 percent from the
floor, but the Nuggets tied a season high with eight 3-pointers made.
Grant raised her career total to 173 treys, third best in Gold Nuggets
history. Xavier outrebounded Dillard 38-33, committed 16 turnovers and gained
23 with the help of 15 steals.
Xavier has beaten Dillard six straight times and in
15 of the past 16 meetings. The Nuggets lead the series 56-19.
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