Lady Pilots take down #16 Xavier
November 21, 2011
SHREVEPORT, La. - The LSU Shreveport Lady Pilots women's basketball team defeated the no. 16 team in the NAIA on Monday night at The Dock as they took down the Gold Nuggets of Xavier University of New Orleans 69-65.Xavier (4-2) came out with their fast and furious defense in the first half and dominated the basket as they started eight for 10 from the field but cooled off finishing 10 of 20 in the first half while the Lady Pilots had just the opposite making 39% of their shots from the field in the first half and managed to keep the game within four at the half. The first half was never tied and each team held the lead five different times with XU holding the largest lead of seven while the Lady Pilots never led by more than one in the first half.
LSUS (2-2) blazed the nets in the second half for 52% while making 11 of 15 from the charity stripe. The Lady Pilots took the lead for good with 13:48 to play off a three-pointer by Christy Willis. LSUS grew their lead to as much as 13 but XU kept trying to claw their way back into the game as Jasmine Grant nailed back-to-back three's to bring the visitors within six and erased the double-digit lead with 9:40 to go.
The Lady Pilots increased their lead to double-digits again to as much as 11 but the Gold Nuggets came back to within one with 31 seconds to play. LSUS' Sharde Henry made the two crucial free throws to give the Lady Pilots a three-point advantage with 13 seconds to go. XU chose to go to the basket with under 10 seconds to play as Danielle Kennebrew missed the layup that was rebounded by LSUS' Willis who was then fouled and sent to the line with .2 seconds to go. She made the second free-throw to give LSUS the win.
The home team finished with three different scorers reaching double figures with Simone Brewer leading the way with 14 while Sharde Henry and Willis each finished with 13 points. Every player that saw playing time for the Lady Pilots had at least one rebound as LSUS gathered more than the visitors, 37-30. Jenna Diakos and Brewer tied for the team high with seven boards each. Meoshi Bradley led the team in assists with five while the team collected 15.
XU also finished with three scorers in double figures: Grant led all scorers with 19 while Kennebrew had 11 and Brandi Young finished with 10.
The next game for the Lady Pilots will be on Nov. 28 in Austin against Huston-Tillotson University at 5:30 p.m. The next game at the Dock will be on Saturday, December 3, against Texas Wesleyan University at 5:30 p.m.
