NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana rallied in the final 4 1/2 minutes Thursday for a 61-54 women's basketball victory against Our Lady of the Lake.
        It was the Red River Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
        The Saints led 52-51 after Desiree Rogers' basket with 4:42 remaining, but the Gold Nuggets clinched with a closing 10-2 run. Zaria Harleaux's basket at 4:16 put XULA ahead to stay, 53-52.
        Kam Shelley had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals for XULA (3-0). Harleaux and Lauren Banks had 11 points and eight rebounds apiece, and Harleaux had four steals. Joy Campbell had seven assists.
        Julia Plata scored 16 points for OLLU (2-2), Rogers had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Samantha Fields scored 10. Alexandra Martin grabbed 13 rebounds.
        Plata and Fields scored 10 points apiece to lead OLLU to a 30-26 halftime advantage.
        OLLU outshot XULA 44.9 to 31.7 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets made 17-of-25 free throws to the Saints' 5-of-9.
        XULA will play host to RRAC basketball newbie Texas A&M-San Antonio at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center. It will be a doubleheader; the men of XULA and TAMUSA will tip off at 3 p.m.
        XULA was the only RRAC women's team to win at home Thursday. Elsewhere:
        •  Huston-Tillotson won 77-68 at Paul Quinn.
        •  North American won 72-63 at Southwest (N.M.)
        •  Texas A&M-San Antonio won 83-81 against Louisiana Christian; they played at LSU-Alexandria because of water damage to LCU's H.O. West Fieldhouse.