Lady Rams earn rare season sweep of Gold Nuggets

NEW ORLEANS — Three days after a stunning last-second comeback victory at NAIA No. 17 Loyola (N.O.), Xavier University of Louisiana women’s basketball suffered its second consecutive double-digit loss at home — a 66-48 defeat Tuesday to Mobile.

“The energy level from the Loyola game was not there,” XULA head coach Bo Browder said. “This team is not going to win games on the Xavier resume or the Xavier tradition. They’re going to have to earn victories every night, and that includes in our home arena.”

The Lady Rams outshot the Gold Nuggets 50.9 to 25.4 percent from the floor to earn their eighth consecutive victory and beat XULA twice in the same regular season for the first time since 1990-91. Mobile (8-1) had lost 17 straight to the Gold Nuggets (9-5) at XULA since a 71-58 win at The Barn on Feb. 6, 1999.

Kendra Langham had 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for Mobile. Jordyn York had 17 points and four assists and made 3-of-4 3-pointers, and Artasia McDowell had 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Kyla Duncan, with 12 points, was the only double-figure scorer for XULA (9-5). Da’Jha Virgil had a game- and career-high six assists but was scoreless after her career-high 20 points at Loyola. Nahrie Pierce and O.C. Mbakop Ngassam grabbed six rebounds apiece, and Mbakop Ngassam blocked two shots.

XULA scored the first five points but lost the lead for good in the seventh minute. Mobile led 38-18 at halftime and took its largest lead, 41-18, on Kelsey Pinera’s 3-pointer to open the third quarter. The Gold Nuggets never got closer than 12 points in the second half.

“I’m frustrated by our inconsistecy,” Browder said.

XULA will break for Christmas, then return to the court Jan. 4 in a 2 p.m. game at LSU-Alexandria. The Gold Nuggets’ next home game will tip off at 3 p.m. Jan. 25 against NAIA No. 9 Talladega.