NEW ORLEANS - The Xavier women avenged an earlier loss and kept pace in the Red River Athletic Conference race here Saturday, downing North American 69-63. 

The Gold Nuggets (6-5, 3-3) led for most of the game and were ahead by 15 early in the second half, and were able to hold off a spirited attempt at a comeback by the Mustangs (6-3, 4-3) in the fourth quarter. 

With the win, the Gold Nuggets find themselves in seventh place in the RRAC but are within two games of fourth place. The victory was also a measure of revenge for XULA, which had fallen by a score of 74-60 to the Mustangs on the road last month. 

Four Xavier players scored in double figures in the contest. 

Tiarra Tillison led the team with 13 points, which she paired with 5 assists. Alicia Blanton added 10 points and 6 assists, while Jaleah Lafargue and Fatima Black scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench. Lafargue also had a team-best 8 rebounds. 

Jala Williams was good for 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal in the win. 

XULA faces its biggest challenge of the season in its next contest, a 5:30 p.m. home showdown with RRAC-leading LSU-Shreveport.