TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Essence Wells scored a career-high 26 points Wednesday, and Nahrie Pierce scored a couple of baskets in overtime to help Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 64-57 women's basketball victory against Stillman.
     The Gold Nuggets (4-2) won for the second time in three days. Stillman is 0-2.
     "Great team win," 21st-year XULA head coach Bo Browder said. "We've just got to keep playing better."
     Wells also produced career bests with five made 3-pointers (in nine attempts) and nine made free throws (in 10 attempts). The senior guard and two-time second-team All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selection also had seasons highs of five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
     "I thought when we recruited her that Essence Wells had a chance to be a special player," Browder said. "Tonight she played extra special."
     XULA led 34-30 at halftime after leading by 13 midway through the second quarter. The teams went into overtime tied at 55 after Wells missed a two-pointer on the final possession in regulation.
     The Gold Nuggets did not lose the lead in overtime after scoring the first three points. Freshman Abryhia Irons scored a basket at 3:22 to make it 57-55, then Wells made 1-of-2 free throws at 2:42 for a 58-55 advantage.
     Pierce scored at 2:07 after a pass from Nina German to make it 60-57, and it was 62-57 at 1:25 when Pierce scored after a pass from Mackenzie Davis. Wells concluded the scoring with 2-of-2 free throws with 31 seconds remaining.
     Pierce, Da'Jha Virgil and O.C. Mbakop Ngassam scored eight points apiece for XULA and were a combined 11-of-15 from the floor, including Virgil's 2-of-3 3-pointers. Mbakop Ngassam grabbed five rebounds to share team honors with Wells.
     Wells's first 3-pointer of the game made her the eighth Gold Nugget to reach 100 in a career and the first since Whitney Gathright, who made 169 from 2012-16. Jarryn Cleaves (2003-05, 2006-08) holds the school record of 283 treys.
     "The energy of the game kept me going," Wells said. "I feel like I made key shots to keep our momentum going. I just enjoy the competition and winning. Being able to do that with some of the closest people to me means a lot."
     The victory was the Gold Nuggets' first in overtime since 74-71 at Auburn Montgomery on Dec. 4, 2015. XULA lost five straight overtime decisions between then and Wednesday, three in 2016-17.
     XULA has the weekend off but will play four times next week, including a 5 p.m. Monday home tip-off against Huston-Tillotson at the Convocation Center.