JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Andriel Moss was
the real deal Friday, producing 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead
eighth-seeded SUNO to a 58-56 upset of top-seeded and 23rd-ranked Xavier University of Louisiana
in the women's basketball first round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Tournament.
The Gold Nuggets (23-7), who won the GCAC
regular-season championship, will be considered for an at-large bid
to the NAIA Division I National Championship. The NAIA will announce the
32-team field and pairings Wednesday, and the tournament will begin
March 13 in Billings, Mont.
Moss scored eight points during a 14-2 run
that turned XULA's 43-41 lead into a 55-45 SUNO advantage with 4:35 remaining.
A Moss basket at 7:25 put the Lady Knights (7-22) ahead to stay at 45-43,
and an Asia Thibodeaux 3-pointer closed the rally.
Freshman
Anica Gacevic, who made three second-half 3s for XULA,
missed from 28 feet on the Gold Nuggets' final possession.
GCAC Player of the Year
Jas Hill had 14 points and five
steals for the Gold Nuggets. Gacevic scored nine,
Essence Wells had eight points
and three steals, and
Mikayla Bates scored seven.
Maya Trench had eight assists,
three steals and no turnovers.
Moss, a 5-foot-11 senior forward in her second season at SUNO, tied her career
point high.