SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Xavier University of Louisiana opened its 2019-20 women's basketball season Friday with a 70-65 loss to UM-Dearborn in the Lawrence Tech Blue Devil Classic.
     The Gold Nuggets trailed 36-32 at halftime and never caught the Wolverines in the second half.
     The Wolverines are ranked 22nd in NAIA Division II. It was their opener, too.
     Essence Wells scored 14 points, Shaelynn Moore 11 and Abryhia Irons 10 for the Gold Nuggets. It was the XULA debut of Moore, a senior and a former Dillard standout, and Irons, a freshman.
     Laekyn Jaciuk scored 19 points for UM-Dearborn, including a layup at 4:37 of the second quarter that put the Wolverines ahead to stay at 28-27.
     "We let it get away," 21st-year XULA head coach Bo Browder said. "We were awful at the foul line (19-of-32) and missed a lot of easy layups. Dearborn is a good team, but we could've gotten this win. We've just got to keep it moving forward."
     XULA will play Lawrence Tech — which defeated Point Park 85-71 — in this event at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday, then play its home opener at 6 p.m. Tuesday against William Carey at the Convocation Center.