Carey wins 62-59 in another Monday malaise for Xavier
January 30, 2012

Box score

     HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Monday road games continue to be a losing proposition for the Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team this season.
     The Gold Nuggets are 0-3 in those scenarios after their 62-59 defeat at William Carey.
     Reserves Erica Moore and Ciera Sibley scored 14 points apiece for the Lady Crusaders (9-10). They gained a split of their two-game season series with the Gold Nuggets (17-7), who are ranked 17th in NAIA Division I.
     William Carey outdueled Xavier at the free-throw line, making 5-of-6 in the final 54 seconds. The Gold Nuggets made 2-of-7 free throws in the final two minutes after making 17 of their first 21.
     Keldra Hall scored 12 points for Xavier, and Jasmine Grant and SiMon Franklin had 11 apiece. Grant, whose 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining gave the Nuggets a one-point victory at Shorter on Jan. 4, missed with one second remaining on a 3-pointer which could've forced overtime.
     Xavier missed another late chance to tie when Jazmoné Kelly scored a basket and was fouled with 20 seconds remaining, cutting Carey's lead to 60-59. Kelly missed the free throw and Franklin grabbed the rebound — but Kendria Young stole the ball from Brandi Young with six seconds remaining. Grant then fouled Young, who made 2-of-2 free throws with three seconds to play.
     Franklin's 3-point play with 5:17 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 52-50. The Lady Crusaders scored seven of the next eight points but did not take the lead for good until TeAnna Carter made the first of two free throws for a 58-57 advantage with 54 seconds remaining.
     Xavier, which led 32-29 at halftime, shot 38 percent from the floor. William Carey shot 47.2 percent. The Lady Crusaders made 25-of-37 free throws, and Xavier made 19-of-28. Xavier, led by Kelly's eight rebounds, had a 34-30 advantage on the boards.
     The Nuggets' next game will start at 5:30 p.m. next Monday at Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent SUNO. Xavier is 7-1 in the GCAC and leads the conference by a half-game over SUNO.