NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball won at home for the second consecutive day, this time in a 76-52 decision against Webber International.
     Fourteen players scored for the Gold Nuggets (2-0), but only Terriel Ross (11 points) reached double figures. Kelsey Joseph and Gina Smith scored nine points apiece, and Jalyn Hodge had seven.
     Joseph, a senior guard, matched her career scoring high.
     XULA outscored the Warriors (0-4) in every quarter, including 28-15 in the second to take a 44-27 halftime lead. The Gold Nuggets twice led by 25 points, the second time after Hodge's 3-pointer with 5:26 remaining.
     Amber Ferguson led Webber International with 18 points and seven rebounds, and teammate Tiffany Zito had eight points and 10 rebounds.
     XULA made only three of its final 18 field-goal attempts but still outshot the Warriors 34.8 to 31.7 percent from the floor for the game. The Gold Nuggets were plus-14 in turnovers, made 25-of-29 free throws — they were 9-of-20 the day before — and produced 24 steals, their most in a game since January 2013.
     XULA freshman point guard Maya Trench collected five steals for the second consecutive game. Aliyah Bell had four steals, and Ireyon Keith had three.
     XULA opened its 2015-16 season with a 47-42 victory at Webber.
     The Gold Nuggets' next five games will be against teams 26th or higher in the NAIA Division I preseason coaches rankings. XULA will play No. 3 Our Lady of the Lake at 5 p.m. Friday in the LSUS Classic at Shreveport, La. The Nuggets' next home game will start at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15 against city rival Loyola, which is ranked 24th.