Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Nuggets earn highest rank in final NAIA poll since 2005

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana climbed two places to 16th in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll announced Monday. It's the Gold Nuggets' best position in the final poll of a season since ranking 15th in 2005.

Xavier (26-9) earned its second consecutive two-place climb after beating then-16th-ranked Southern Nazarene 74-67 in the opening round of the national tournament March 15 at Frankfort, Ky. Second-ranked Union (Tenn.), the tournament runner-up, eliminated the Gold Nuggets the following night with a 58-43 decision.

Xavier is in the top 25 for the 31st consecutive time dating to January 2010. It's the Nuggets' longest top-25 streak since 34 straight polls from Jan. 13, 2003-March 8, 2005.

The Gold Nuggets were 16th in the preseason poll on Oct. 24. Their highest position was 15th on Jan. 23, and their lowest was 21st on Feb. 13.

National champion Oklahoma City was No. 1 for the seventh consecutive poll and the 10th time in 13 polls this season.

NOTES: Xavier was the only school to win a first-round game against a higher-ranked opponent at nationals in 2011 and 2012 .Tourbeau Sports Group is selling videos of the Gold Nuggets' two games at the national

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS.COM
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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