Women’s Basketball: William Carey finds the right Engle to earn rare victory at XULA

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore forward Rebekah Engle led a William Carey closing surge Monday that gave the Lady Crusaders a 57-47 basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Carey (5-3) scored its first victory against XULA on XULA’s campus since 1993. The Lady Crusaders had dropped their final 19 games in The Barn, then five in a row in the Convocation Center, which opened in 2012.

XULA led 44-42 after Abryhia Irons made 1-of-2 free throws with 5:03 remaining, but Carey closed with a 15-3 rally that included Engle 3-pointers at 3:38 and 2:28 — her only treys of the game — and 2-of-2 free throws with 24 seconds remaining.

Engle scored a game-high 15 points and did not miss a shot. She was 5-of-5 from the floor and made 3-of-3 free throws. Lauren Rowley had 10 points, four assists and three steals for the Lady Crusaders, and Kyley Seals had 10 points and six rebounds.

Victory Udechi produced her second double-double of the season, 14 points and 11 rebounds, for the Gold Nuggets (5-4), who have lost four of their last five after a 4-0 start.

Carey led 28-25 at halftime and 38-37 through three quarters. For the game Carey outshot XULA 45 to 32.2 percent from the floor and outscored XULA 15-7 in free throws.

XULA will break for semester exams, then travel to Honolulu for games Dec. 17-18 in the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic.