XULA pulls away late to win 67-60 at city rival Dillard

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana scored the final eight points to earn a 67-60 women’s basketball victory at city rival Dillard.

The win was the third in a row for XULA (6-3), which will meet Dillard (1-3) at 5 p.m. Monday in the second segment of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference group play at Talladega, Ala. The teams’ Thursday game did not count in the GCAC standings.

Dillard never scored again after JaQuanna Hunter’s two free throws gave the Lady Bleu Devils a 60-59 lead with 2:52 remaining. An Abryhia Irons basket at 2:26 put XULA ahead to stay.

Nina German had 15 points, five assists, two steals and a career-high 11 rebounds for XULA. Irons and Nia Bishop scored 13 points apiece, and LaMonica Plater scored 11. O.C. Mbakop Ngassam scored eight points, grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds and tied her career high with four blocks.

“We’re still a work in progress,” XULA head coach Bo Browder said. “We played hard and played together, which was important. We faced adversity at times, but I was happy with the way we played.”

Irons grabbed nine rebounds and had a game-high and career-high-tying six assists. She and German drew Browder’s highest praise.

“Abryhia Irons and Nina German were outstanding,” Browder said. “They had well-rounded games on both ends of the floor.”

XULA led 32-30 at halftime, trailed 48-47 through three quarters, then won the final period 20-12. “Our defense stepped up in the fourth quarter and got some key stops,” Browder said, “and we cut down on our turnovers which gave us a chance to win.”

XULA outshot Dillard 35.1 to 31.7 percent from the floor — 36.4 to 24.2 percent in the second half. For the game XULA had a 58-35 rebound advantage.

Rayah Haynes had 13 points, four assists and five steals for Dillard, which played for the first time since Nov. 13.