Moore scores 17 to help Nuggets complete season sweep of Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Shaelynn Moore scored a season-high 17 points Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 71-62 women’s basketball victory against William Carey.

The Gold Nuggets (8-4) completed a two-game regular-season sweep of the Lady Crusaders (1-5).

Moore made her first five 3-point attempts, three during 3 1/2 minutes of the second quarter to give XULA a 28-10 lead. The Gold Nuggets led 36-25 at halftime and did not lose the lead thereafter.

Essence Wells had 14 points, three blocks and three steals for XULA, and Gina Smith scored a season-high 11 points — she was 4-of-4 from the floor — and blocked two shots. Nahrie Pierce had six points and five rebounds.

Rachel Thompson and Mallory Thompson — they are not related — had 16 points and three steals apiece for William Carey.

XULA outshot William Carey 57.1 to 31.6 percent from the floor. The Gold Nuggets made 11 3-pointers — one fewer than the XULA game record — in 22 attempts. Wells made three 3s, and Da’Jha Virgil, Jalyn Hodge and Anica Gacevic made one apiece. Carey kept it close with advantages of 17-2 in second-chance points and 20-3 in offensive rebounds.

XULA has won six straight and nine of its last 10 meetings with William Carey.

XULA will visit NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette in a 6 p.m. Monday exhibition, then break for semester exams.