Gold Nuggets shine in rivalry renewal against SUNO

Xavier University of Louisiana scored the final 18 points of the first quarter and rolled to a 92-50 women’s basketball victory Thursday against city and HBCU rival SUNO at XULA’s Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (3-1) have won eight straight and 18 of their last 21 at home. XULA trailed 12-9 before scoring the next 18 points and 27 of the next 28. Nia Bishop produced 17 points and six assists, both game and season highs, for XULA.

Bishop was 7-of-9 from the floor, 2-of-2 on 3-pointers, and made more field goals than she did in XULA’s first three games (6). Quiana Vasquez scored 14 for SUNO (2-3) but was 7-of-26 from the floor and 0-of-9 on 3-pointers.

XULA outshot the Lady Knights 41.3 to 26.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 60-39.

The Gold Nuggets’ 42-point winning margin matched the largest in the history of the 87-game series, which began 40 years ago. XULA won for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings and leads the series 73-14. This is SUNO’s first team in three seasons.