NEW ORLEANS -- Vinnie Briggs' 15 points Wednesday led Xavier University of Louisiana to a wire-to-wire 71-66 women's basketball victory against Mobile in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I teams.
The Gold Nuggets (1-2), ranked 18th, won for the 23rd consecutive time in a home opener and extended their home winning streak to 20. The Lady Rams (1-1) are ranked 22nd.
Briggs, Xavier's scoring leader in every game this season, also led her team with six rebounds. Teammate Whitney Gathright had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Alesha Smith and Kelsey Joseph reached career highs with 11 and nine points, respectively.
Jammieca Hudson had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Mobile, and Kali Koenig scored 14 points.
Xavier led 6-0 after 46 seconds -- two baskets by Smith and another by Briggs -- and never lost the lead. The Gold Nuggets led 42-27 at halftime and took their biggest lead, 46-27, on a Briggs basket with 18:27 remaining.
Three-pointers by Hudson and Koenig in the final minute twice cut Xavier's lead to five points, but the Lady Rams never got closer.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor, but Xavier made five more field goals than Mobile. The Gold Nuggets blocked eight shots -- more than they did in any game last season -- and outrebounded Mobile 41-33. Eleven of Xavier's 12 active players scored, and all of them grabbed at least one rebound.
"I liked the way we played in the first half after two tough losses to start the season," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We were fresh. We played outstanding defense. It was a great team effort in the first half.
"But we've got to get better and find a way to put two good halves together."
Xavier will play 11th-ranked Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m. Saturday in the LSUS Classic at Shreveport, La. It will be the Gold Nuggets' fourth consecutive game against a ranked NAIA opponent to start the season.
Box score
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information
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