RRAC-champion Eagles end Gold Nuggets’ 5-game win streak

NEW ORLEANS — Texas A&M-Texarkana stretched its women’s basketball winning streak to 21 games with a 62-53 Red River Athletic Conference decision Thursday against Xavier University of Louisiana.

It was the final regular-season game for the Gold Nuggets (17-10 overall, 11-8 RRAC), who will play Feb. 24 in the RRAC Tournament quarterfinals at Alexandria, La. XULA on Saturday will pick up a second RRAC forfeit victory against Paul Quinn, which canceled its season in January because of injuries.

The Eagles (24-1, 19-0), the RRAC regular-season champion, will visit Louisiana Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday and attempt to finish unbeaten in the conference.

There were 15 lead changes and five ties before Reneya Hopkins’ 3-pointer with 7:03 remaining but the Eagles ahead to stay at 49-46.

Bre’Asiajah Matthews scored 16 points, Vasha Moore 12 and Lovietta Walker 10 for TAMUT, which ended XULA’s five-game win streak. Walker had nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Abryhia Irons scored 17 points, Nia Bishop 13 and Shylia McGee 11 for XULA, which led 28-27 at halftime. Nina German had four assists and five steals, and Ashanti LaVergne grabbed eight rebounds.

TAMUT outshot XULA 46.3 to 36 percent from the floor. Thirteen missed free throws helped stymie the Gold Nuggets’ upset bid.

Bishop, German, Irons and LaVergne were honored in a postgame senior ceremony. Senior members of XULA spirit squads were honored at halftime.