NEW ORLEANS — Talladega made 6-of-8 free throws in the final 2:17 Saturday to escape with a 71-67 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
     There were 18 lead changes and 18 ties, the last at 63 when XULA's Essence Wells made two free throws with 2:39 remaining. But the Gold Nuggets (10-9, 1-3) made only 1-of-5 field goals thereafter — a Shaelynn Moore 3-pointer with 58 seconds remaining.
     The Lady Tornadoes (16-4, 4-0), ranked 11th in NAIA Division I, took the lead for good at 64-63 when Courtnee Williams made 1-of-2 free throws at 2:17. Williams clinched the victory when she made two free throws with three seconds remaining.
     Diamond Jolly scored 18 points, Tyeisha Juhan 16 and Williams 12 for Talladega, and NAIA DI steals leader Brijanee Moore had 10 points, 11 assists and six steals.
     Wells and Shaelynn Moore scored 12 points apiece for XULA, and Kyla Duncan and O.C. Mbakop Ngassam grabbed nine rebounds apiece.
     "Being right there and getting it done are two different things," XULA head coach Bo Browder said. "We had our chances, but we made some bad decisions down the stretch. We committed 27 turnovers. That's too many."
     The Gold Nuggets will continue their four-game home stand with a 5:30 p.m. Monday GCAC matchup against Edward Waters.