Gold Nuggets edge LeMoyne-Owen, 51-51

Abryhia Irons’ final-possession steal Saturday preserved Xavier University of Louisiana’s 51-50 women’s basketball homecoming victory against LeMoyne-Owen at XULA’s Convocation Center.

Irons grabbed the ball – her career-high-tying sixth steal of the game — after the Lady Magicians’ Sierra Lynch fumbled it away as she slipped in front of her bench on a play that began with 7.6 seconds remaining.

Shylia McGee scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers for the Gold Nuggets (1-0). Rayna Ross scored nine points for XULA, and Irons had five points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Lynch scored nine points for LeMoyne-Owen — an NCAA Division II opponent which played the game as an exhibition — but also committed eight of her team’s 30 turnovers.

XULA committed 29 turnovers but trailed for only 18 seconds – that was late in the first quarter – and led by 12 points three times in the third quarter.