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LAFAYETTE, La. — In its second exhibition of the season
against an NCAA Division I opponent, Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball
lost 62-49 Monday to Louisiana-Lafayette.
Although the Gold Nuggets (8-4) did not count the game in
their records and statistics, the Ragin' Cajuns (6-1) did. It was Louisiana-Lafayette's
fifth consecutive victory and second this season against an NAIA opponent.
Shaelynn Moore scored 11 points to lead XULA, but
the fifth-year guard didn't score after her 3-pointer at 6:14 of the second quarter
gave the Nuggets their final lead at 18-17. Caira Wren's basket at 5:54 —
her only points of the game — put the Cajuns ahead to stay at 19-18.
Louisiana-Lafayette led 32-24 at halftime and held
its largest lead, 51-34, after Alexandria Goodly's 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter.
Essence Wells scored 10 points and made all six of her free throws
for XULA, but she also committed six turnovers.
Kyla Duncan had nine points and six rebounds,
and
Abryhia Irons grabbed a game-high-tying seven rebounds.
Goodly and Jomyra Mathis scored 10 points apiece
for the Ragin' Cajuns, and Ty'Reona Doucet and Andrea Cournoyer scored eight apiece.
Kristen Daniels grabbed seven rebounds.
Louisiana-Lafayette made nine more baskets than XULA and outshot
the Gold Nuggets 39.4 to 35.4 percent from the
floor. The Cajuns were plus-11 in turnovers, committing nine and gaining 20. XULA held advantages of 39-36
in rebounds and 5-4 in blocked shots. XULA also
was more productive at the line, making 12-of-16 free throws to Louisiana-Lafayette's 6-of-9.
"I know people don't want to hear this, but at the end of the day, we're going to be fine,"
21st-year XULA head coach
Bo Browder said. "Putting together the pieces of this puzzle have
been a little more tricky than we expected, but our team is making good adjustments and gaining confidence.
"Tonight our problem was too many turnovers."
XULA will break for semester exams, then visit city rival
Loyola at 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Loyola was 24th in the NAIA Division I coaches preseason poll
and, at 6-1, stands a reasonable chance to climb when the next rankings are announced Wednesday.
