NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright and Donyeah Mayfield scored 13 points apiece Monday, and Xavier University of Louisiana shot a season-high 46.4 percent from the floor to defeat Edward Waters 73-65 in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball.
     The Gold Nuggets (11-5), ranked ninth in NAIA Division I, won their GCAC opener for the seventh consecutive year and the 23rd time in 24 seasons. They're 6-0 at home this season and 13-0 all-time against the Tigers (12-4, 0-2).
     Mayfield matched career highs with five assists and four blocked shots. Gathright had seven assists and four steals and tied SiMon Franklin for 18th place on Xavier's career point list with 1,136.
     Freshman Kiera Robinson had 10 points and six rebounds for Xavier.
     Jermisha Collins scored a career-high 21 points for Edward Waters. Bianca Thornton scored 14 points and made all four of the Lady Tigers' 3-pointers, and Valerie Hill and Kyeshia Dawkins scored 11 points apiece. Hill and Kadajah Allen grabbed 10 rebounds apiece, and Dawkins had eight assists and three steals.
     Xavier outscored Edward Waters in 3-of-4 quarters, but none by more than four points. Xavier led 29-28 at halftime, and Gathright's 3-point play at 8:08 of the third quarter but the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 36-33.
     Edward Waters shot 36.2 percent from the floor.
     Xavier will play host to GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. next Monday.