NEW ORLEANS — Both Xavier University of Louisiana basketball teams will put winning streaks on the line Wednesday when they meet LSU-Alexandria in a doubleheader at the Convocation Center.
     The women's game will tip off at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7.
     Not only have the Gold Nuggets (2-2) won their last two games, but they also led wire-to-wire in both. The first of those victories was an 84-68 victory Nov. 8 at LSUA. That's the Generals' only regular-season game, although they've also lost six exhibitions to NCAA Division I opponents.
     XULA junior guard Mikayla Bates has a unique distinction; she's the only Gold Nugget of the last 14 seasons to reach 25 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in the first four games.
     In the men's game, the Gold Rush (6-3) will seek to extend a four-game home winning streak that includes three victories this season. But to accomplish that they'll have to snap a three-game skid against the Generals (3-2), the NAIA's second-ranked team and a national tournament semifinalist last season.
     LSUA defeated the Gold Rush 92-65 three weeks ago and by 17 and 15 points last season.
     Leading season scorers for each team are Essence Wells (9.0 points per game) of the XULA women, Lillie Snowden (19.0) of the LSUA women, Virgil Davison (13.4) of the XULA men and Jordin Williams (17.8) of the LSUA men.
     The Generals will be the highest ranked team to play the Gold Rush in the Convocation Center since No. 1 Talladega defeated XULA in the championship game of the 2015 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournement.