Box score

        PINEVILLE, La. — Nia Bishop's driving layup — the final points of the game — with 1:36 remaining Monday gave Xavier University of Louisiana a 59-57 Red River Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Louisiana Christian.
        The Gold Nuggets (10-5 overall, 5-1 RRAC) have won four straight, all conference road games. It was XULA's third victory in five days.
        After Bishop's basket, the Wildcats (8-7, 2-4) missed their final four shots, two on the final possession.
        O.C. Mbakop Ngassam scored 12 points, Bishop 11 and Victory Udechi eight for XULA. Mbakop Ngassam and Udechi had six rebounds and two blocked shots apiece, Bishop had three steals, and Da'Jha Virgil made a pair of 3-pointers.
        XULA took the lead late in the first quarter and did not lose that lead en route to a 33-28 halftime advantage. LC led 41-39 in the third quarter and rallied again after an Abryhia Irons basket gave XULA a 54-45 lead with 6:20 remaining.
        Kieyoomia Benally scored 18 points for LC, and Miya McKinney had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
        The Lady Wildcats led 10-5 through four minutes, but it took them nearly 13 minutes to score their next 10.
        It was XULA's fourth game this season decided by less than three points; the Gold Nuggets won three of those.
        It was the 54th meeting between the schools — LC leads the series 31-23 — but the first since March 2, 2000. LC moved to NCAA Division III the following season, then returned to the NAIA in July with membership in the RRAC. XULA and LC were charter members of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, which launched in 1981-82, and XULA left that league for the RRAC in July.
        Head coach Bo Browder's first two XULA teams (1998-99 and 1999-2000) were a combined 0-6 against LC. Janice Joseph, the Gold Nuggets' head coach from 1992-98, was a two-time first-team NAIA All-America player at LC and led the Lady Wildcats to third place at NAIA nationals her senior year.
        In November LC changed its name from Louisiana College to Louisiana Christian University.
        XULA will be home Thursday to play RRAC opponent Texas College at the Convocation Center — women's game at 5:30 p.m., then the men's game at 7:30 — and the doubleheader will be open to fans who wear masks and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.