NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana rallied in the fourth quarter Monday for a 63-58 women's basketball victory against Life University.
        It was XULA's regular-season opener.
        Life trailed 30-21 at halftime but led 49-46 on Kenya Robinson's basket with 8:05 remaining. The Gold Nuggets went ahead to stay 58-57 on Kam Shelley's two free throws with 1:27 remaining.
        Shelley had 19 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Teammate Lauren Banks had 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Both are graduate transfers, and Banks is the sister of XULA graduate assistant Kalyn Banks.
        "Very nice player," 26th-year head coach Bo Browder said of Shelley. "She's still getting accustomed to our system, but she can be a difference-maker."
        Returning letterwinner Patricia Sosa Lora produced her first XULA double-double: 10 points and 13 rebounds. Sosa Lora grabbed nine first-half rebounds.
        Brionna Sims scored 17 points, including 9-of-9 free throws, for the Running Eagles (1-1), and Maikya Simmons had 12 points and five assists. Robinson grabbed 13 rebounds.
        XULA outshot Life 38.1 to 33.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Running Eagles 43-39. Life had a 16-11 advantage in made free throws; the Gold Nuggets made all theirs in the second half.
        The Gold Nuggets are 21-0 in the last 33 seasons when they open the season at home — 14-0 under Browder.
        "It's game one, and we're going to get better," Browder said. "Today was really good for us."
        Attendance was 1,012, and most of that was fueled by NOLA Metro Schools Education Day and local students from elementary through high school. There were campus tours for students before the game, and they met XULA athletes from many sports.
        Both XULA basketball teams will travel to city rival Dillard for a Friday doubleheader at Dent Hall: women at 6 p.m., men at 8.