LAFAYETTE, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana's three-game women's basketball winning streak ended Thursday in a 74-55 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette.
     Terriel Ross notched a career-high 18 points for the second consecutive game, but she was the only double-figure scorer for the Gold Nuggets (6-6), an NAIA member. The Ragin' Cajuns (3-2) of NCAA Division I had four in double figures, led by Gabby Alexander with 15 points and Jaylyn Gordon with 14.
     XULA shot a season-best 43.4 percent from the floor — 51.4 percent in the final three quarters — but was minus-12 in rebounds, minus-14 in personal fouls and minus-6 in turnovers. The Cajuns shot 44.4 percent from the floor and made 21-of-30 free throws to XULA's 7-of-10. The Nuggets did not attempt a free throw in the fourth quarter.
     Ross made 9-of-13 from the floor in 24 minutes. Teammates Essence Wells and Aliyah Bell scored nine points apiece, and Bell led the Nuggets with seven rebounds.
     Alexander grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Simone Fields had 12 points and Troi Swain 10 for the Cajuns, and both grabbed seven rebounds.
     Gordon made back-to-back 3-pointers late in the first quarter to help the Cajuns take a 21-11 lead at the end of the period. XULA and UL Lafayette scored the same amount of points during the next two quarters before the Cajuns pulled away with a 21-12 fourth quarter. Their biggest lead was 20.
     A Ross layup with 6:17 remaining cut XULA's deficit to 59-51, but the Cajuns closed the game with a 15-4 run.
     The Cajuns never trailed and grabbed the lead for good in the sixth minute after ties at 6 and 8.
     The Gold Nuggets will take semester exams Dec. 7-14, then return to the court Dec. 15 against Concordia (Ala.) in a 1 p.m. game at XULA's Convocation Center.