BABSON PARK, Fla. — All-star senior guard Whitney Gathright scored 21 points Saturday, and NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana opened its women's basketball season with a 47-42 victory at Webber International.
     The Gold Nuggets allowed their fewest points ever in an opener on the road. They allowed 65.3 points per game on the road last season.
     "Whitney Gathright was outstanding," said 17th-year coach Bo Browder. "Our defense started to take control late in the first half, and in the second half our defensive rotations got so much better."
     Gathright, All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and third-team All-Louisiana each of the past two seasons, reached 20 points for the ninth time and increased her career point total to 945. Another XU senior, Donyeah Mayfield, scored 10 points.
     Deslyn Applewhaite and Jurnee Pettigrew scored eight points apiece for Webber International (0-1), an NAIA Division II member which was 22-7 last season.
     In its first game under the new four-period format for NAIA and NCAA women's games, Xavier led 13-11 after the first quarter, 30-23 at halftime and 39-27 through three quarters. The Gold Nuggets extended their lead to 45-31 with about five minutes remaining, and the Warriors came no closer than five points thereafter.
     The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and play another NAIA D2 member, Warner, at 7 p.m. EST Monday in Lake Wales, Fla. Xavier will play its home opener — the Nuggets' only home appearance before Nov. 21 — at 6 p.m. next Saturday against LeMoyne-Owen of NCAA Division II.