TALLADEGA, Ala. — Nautica Smith and Ja'Nyia McNealy made 3-pointers during a late third-quarter run Monday that helped Talladega earn a 53-45 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
     The Lady Tornadoes (12-8, 3-1) scored 10 points in 1 minute, 42 seconds to increase their lead from 33-31 to 43-33. McNealy's trey capped the run at 1:19 of the third period.
     Essence Wells scored 14 points, Gina Smith grabbed nine rebounds and DeDe Martinez blocked four shots for the Gold Nuggets (7-8, 0-3), who have lost six of their last eight games.
     Courtnee Williams scored 12 points, and Sydnee Clark and McNealy had 10 apiece for Talladega, the defending GCAC regular-season and tournament champion. Talladega took sole possession of first place after Tougaloo lost 81-63 at home to Philander Smith.
     XULA led 26-24 at halftime.
     The Gold Nuggets will play William Carey in a non-conference game at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at XULA's Convocation Center.