Lady Pilots take down Gold Nuggets 63-57
February 15, 2007
Shreveport, LA---The LSUS Lady Pilots (12-13, 8-8) used an 11-0 run to begin the first half and never looked back as they cruised to a 63-57 victory over the Xavier University Gold Nuggets (18-10, 10-5) in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action Thursday night.
The Lady Pilots began the second half on an 11-0 run after holding the Gold Nuggets scoreless through the first 7:00. Vyaisha Moss ended the XU scoring drought after connecting on one of two free throw attempts at the 13:02 mark of the half.
At the 9:54 mark Lady Pilots forward Kacie Cryer delivered a pass under the basket to a wide open Quan Joseph who layed in two points stretching the LSUS lead to 19-6.
The Gold Nuggets offense finally got the ball rolling midway through the period and mounted a 13-4 run cutting the LSUS lead to 23-19.
XU stayed within four points until the final 45 seconds when Lady Pilots shooting guard Edie Leonards scored six consecutive points including a fast break lay-up at the buzzer to give LSUS a 34-24 lead at the half.
LSUS pounced on the Gold Nuggets to begin the second half with a 9-4 run which was capped by a Jessica Kelly three pointer at the 17:29 mark forcing an XU timeout trailing 45-28.
The Lady Pilots found themselves in familiar territory with a 17 point lead early in the second; LSUS led by 17 points early in the second half Monday night in a 62-60 loss against Loyola University. Thursday night proved to be a different story however as the Lady Pilots led the entire second half and held on down the stretch for a 63-57 victory.
XU managed to cut the lead to 62-57 with 1:50 remaining after an Alissa Thompson three pointer, but the Lady Pilots defense forced three turnovers and held XU scoreless over the final 1:50.
Erica Turnbull led the Gold Nuggets offense with 18 points and seven rebounds while teammate Rynika Hebert fell one rebound short of a double-double after finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds.
LSUS was out shot from the floor and committed nine more turnovers than XU, but made up the difference on the boards as they out rebounded the Gold Nuggets by a 39-28 margin, including a 12-4 difference on the offensive end.
Leonards led the Lady Pilots with 12 points, eight rebounds, and a game high six assists. Janai Sells finished with 13 points and five rebounds while teammates Kelly and Cryer each collected nine points a piece.
Thursday night’s victory keeps the Lady Pilots in sole possession of 5th spot in the GCAC with just two regular season games remaining. LSUS will be off until next Thursday when they travel to Tougaloo, MS to take on the 8th place Tougaloo College Bulldogs. The Lady Pilots will return home Saturday, February 24th as they host the Southern University of New Orleans Knights which will conclude the end of the GCAC regular season.
