2024-25 Red River Athletic Conference women's basketball standings

        NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana scored 21 points in the final five minutes — 11 by Lauren Banks — to rally for an 85-80 Red River Athletic Conference women's basketball victory Monday against LSU-Alexandria at the Convocation Center.
        The Gold Nuggets are 8-0 for the first time since the 1980-81 season and 5-0 in the RRAC.
        The Generals (6-2, 3-1) held their largest lead, 69-64, after Amani Gray's basket with 4:57 remaining, but XULA responded during the next three minutes with a 14-2 run that included two Banks 3-pointers and another by Kam Shelley. Two Banks free throws with 2:54 remaining put XULA ahead to stay.
        Dannah Martin-Hartwick's 3-pointer for LSUA with 10 seconds remaining cut XULA's lead to 81-80. But the Gold Nuggets clinched with two Joy Campbell free throws and two more from Banks.
        Campbell, Shelley and Banks — all graduate transfers in their only season at XULA — combined for 60 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals. Campbell had 23 points, six assists and four steals, and Shelley had 19 points — eight in the fourth quarter — three 3-pointers and two steals. Banks produced 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.
        Another XULA newbie, Janiya Reed, had 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and made two 3s. Zaria Harleaux had seven points and seven rebounds.
        Jewel Jones made 6-of-8 3s and scored 24 points for LSUA, and Benedetta Peracchi had 18 points and eight rebounds.
        XULA led 37-32 at halftime, and it was tied at 54 through three quarters.
        LSUA outshot XULA 45.6 to 39.7 percent from the floor, but the Gold Nuggets made five more field goals and was plus-15 in turnovers, gaining 24 and committing nine.
        Banks and Shelley scored in double figures in every game this season. But Campbell led XULA in scoring the last three games, averaging 19 points and shooting 59 percent from the floor.
        Someone's win streak will end Monday in XULA's next game, 3 p.m. CST at defending RRAC champion LSU-Shreveport (5-2, 4-0). The Pilots won their last 30 conference games. The game will be the Gold Nuggets' last before semester exams Dec. 5-11.