Friday, November 28, 2014

Gold Nuggets beat Fisk, reach .500 for 1st time this year

XU women's basketball vs. Fisk (41 photos)

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Ireyon Keith scored a career-high 13 points and did not miss a shot Friday in a 74-51 women's basketball victory against Fisk in the Xavier Classic.

The Gold Nuggets (4-4), ranked 18th in NAIA Division I, reached .500 for the first time this season and extended their home winning streak to 22 games. They are 3-0 at home this season.

Keith, who did not start, was 4-of-4 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the line in 15 1/2 minutes. She became the first XU freshman in six years to score in double figures in three consecutive games.

Xavier trailed 11-4 through seven minutes, then scored 16 consecutive points to start a 36-6 run which gave the Gold Nuggets a 40-17 halftime advantage.

Kelsee Singleton scored a season-high 10 points for Xavier, Whitney Gathright and Eliqua Brooks scored nine apiece, and freshman Daylin Boatner scored a career-high eight. Donyeah Mayfield grabbed seven rebounds, and Boatner had five to match her career high.

Ataya Horn and Nailah Whitlock scored 11 points apiece for Fisk (0-9), which lost to a ranked team for the second consecutive day at this event. Sommer Griffin grabbed 10 rebounds.

Keith's layup with 8:35 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 69-33.

No one played more than 22 minutes for Xavier, and all 11 Gold Nuggets scored.

Xavier shot 38.9 percent from the floor, and Fisk shot 28.8, the lowest by an XU opponent this season. Xavier shot a season-best 85.7 percent from the line (12-of-14) and produced a season-best 18 assists.

The Gold Nuggets' next game will start at 6 p.m. Monday at NAIA No. 22 Mobile. The Nuggets' next home game will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday against LeMoyne-Owen of NCAA Division II.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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