Gold Nuggets grab fifth straight victory, 73-70, in overtime at Louisiana Christian

PINEVILLE, La. — Senior guard Nina German scored seven of her 14 points in overtime Monday to help Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 73-70 Red River Athletic Conference women’s basketball victory against Louisiana Christian.

The Gold Nuggets (17-9 overall, 11-7 RRAC) won their fifth in row — three on the road in the last five days — and snapped the seven-game winning streak of the Wildcats (14-10, 11-6).

German’s basket with 2:42 remaining put XULA ahead to stay at 68-67, then a Nia Bishop steal on the next possession set up German’s 3-pointer that made it 71-67 at 2:04.

Claire Borot’s 3-pointer at 1:41 for LCU cut XULA’s lead to 71-70, but the Gold Nuggets’ defense pitched a shutout thereafter: two turnovers, then a Borot missed 3-pointer on LCU’s final possession.

German scored the final two points — free throws — after her steal with 20 seconds remaining.

It wasn’t the first time that German sparkled in overtime — her four free throws in the final 2:23 helped XULA win 56-52 at Edward Waters in the championship game of the 2021 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

Bishop scored a season-high 23 points, and Abryhia Irons scored 14. Irons and German are 3-0 in overtime road games during their XULA careers.

Borot made five 3-pointers and had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Teammates Paola Abad Prieto and Miya McKinney scored 10 points apiece. Abad Prieto scored the final points of regulation, a 3-pointer that tied the score at 64 with 29 seconds remaining.

XULA trailed 32-26 at halftime after the Wildcats closed the second quarter with a 21-4 run.

The Gold Nuggets will play their regular-season finale at home at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against RRAC regular-season champion Texas A&M-Texarkana. XULA fans are asked to wear black to that doubleheader.