Gold Nuggets win wire-to-wire on the road at William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Xavier University of Louisiana women’s basketball earned its second straight wire-to-wire road victory when it defeated William Carey 62-43 Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets (2-2) made 4-of-5 3-pointers — two by freshman Taylor Jones, one apiece by Ireyon Keith and Maya Trench — to build a 19-0 lead in the eighth minute. The Lady Crusaders (0-2) got as close as seven points in the 15th minute, but XULA pulled away with an 8-1 run and maintained a double-digit lead for the final 24:51.

Jones, scoring in double figures for the second consecutive game, finished with 10 points. Keith and Trench scored nine points apiece, and freshman Taylor Jacob had eight.

Tamia Stinson, with 10 points, was the only player from William Carey with more than five.

XULA tied two school records for scoring defense in a quarter: five points allowed in the first and four points allowed in the third.

The Gold Nuggets shot a season-best 41.3 percent from the floor, and their 19 free throws and 33 attempts were season highs. They produced 20 steals, three apiece by Jones, Trench and Gina Smith.

William Carey shot 29.4 percent from the floor and committed 29 turnovers, 18 in the first half. The Lady Crusaders have lost nine straight dating to last season.

XULA’s next game will start at 7 p.m. EST Nov. 22 — the day before Thanksgiving — at Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens. The next Nuggets home game will start at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 against LSU-Alexandria at the Convocation Center.