In Essence: Gold Nuggets defeat Rust because of Wells

NEW ORLEANS — Essence Wells accounted for Xavier University of Louisiana’s final 14 points Monday, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:09 remaining, in a 63-60 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women’s basketball victory against Rust.

The Gold Nuggets (21-6, 11-1) improved to 11-0 at home this season and moved closer to clinching the GCAC regular-season championship. XULA leads the league by a half-game over Talladega (25-4, 11-2), which kept pace with a 75-67 home victory against defending champion Dillard.

XULA will win the GCAC outright by defeating SUNO and Philander Smith at home in the Gold Nuggets’ final two regular-season games. SUNO will visit at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Wells, a junior guard, finished with 18 points and took control after a Taylor Hooks basket gave the Lady Bearcats (19-8, 5-8) their largest lead, 50-47, with 5:08 remaining. The comeback included:

• A Wells basket at 4:09 — it followed her offensive rebound — to give XULA a 51-50 lead.
• A Wells pass to Gina Smith for a layup and a tie at 53 with 3:24 remaining.
• A Wells pass to Da’Jha Virgil for a 3-pointer and a 56-55 XULA lead with 2:14 remaining.
• A Wells 3-pointer with 1:09 remaining — it followed a Jas Hill offensive rebound — to put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay at 59-57.
• A Wells 3-point play with 20 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 62-57.
• 1-of-2 free throws by Wells with 10 seconds remaining — the final points of the game. Rust missed a pair of 3-point attempts thereafter.

There were six lead changes and two ties in the final period.

Wells scored 14 second-half points, nine in the fourth quarter. Her game totals included three assists and three steals. Hill produced 14 points and a season-high-tying five steals, Joi Simmons scored 13, and Nahrie Pierce grabbed six rebounds.

Tylia Rushing-Gillespie scored 16 points for Rust — the Nuggets struggled to stop her drives to the basket — and Keimeshia Walker had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Sophia Anaya scored nine points, and Katie Blackmon had eight points and 10 rebounds. Walker and Anaya made three 3s apiece.

XULA missed its first 16 3-point attempts, then made four of its last 11.

Despite going 0-of-15 on treys in the first half, XULA led 25-16 at the break — then increased its lead to 32-20 when Wells made two free throws at 7:39 of the third quarter. But a 22-11 Rust rally cut the Gold Nuggets’ lead to 43-42 by the close of the period.