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North American University

Scoreboard

Jewel
Alizhan Myrzabek
Jewel Brandley 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting while adding 6 rebounds
49
North American NAU 8-11, 6-9
79
Winner Xavier (LA) XULA 17-0, 14-0
North American NAU
8-11, 6-9
49
Final
79
Xavier (LA) XULA
17-0, 14-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
North American NAU 14 11 11 13 49
Xavier (LA) XULA 14 19 24 22 79

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Lady Stallions Struggle Against Undefeated Xavier

XULA 79 - NAU 49

Lady Stallions Struggle Against Undefeated Xavier, Falling 79-49
Written by Rev. Justin C. Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, LA — On a rainy Tuesday night, the North American University Lady Stallions faced an uphill battle against the undefeated Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Nuggets. Despite a promising start, the Lady Stallions were unable to keep pace, ultimately falling 79-49 in Red River Athletic Conference play.

Both teams were locked at 14 apiece after the first quarter, but Xavier turned up the heat with relentless defense and sharp shooting. The Gold Nuggets outscored NAU 65-35 over the final three quarters, showcasing why they're the #25-ranked team in the NAIA and remain undefeated at 17-0.

Key Moments of the Game
The Lady Stallions began strong, shooting 50% in the opening quarter. Maurdaisha Powell set the tone early, with an impressive 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting. However, Xavier adjusted quickly, applying suffocating pressure that forced NAU into 30 turnovers, a stat that proved to be the game's turning point.

Kam Shelley sparked the Gold Nuggets with an explosive second half, scoring all 18 of her points after the break. Lauren Banks added a season-high 22 points, including three triples, to keep Xavier in control.

Despite the loss, the Lady Stallions displayed moments of brilliance. Jewel Brandley was a force off the bench, tying Powell with 11 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Key Player Stats

  • Maurdaisha Powell (NAU): The standout guard led the Lady Stallions with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal. Her aggressiveness in attacking the paint kept NAU competitive early.

  • Jewel Brandley (NAU): A spark off the bench, Brandley posted 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting while adding 6 rebounds.

  • Victoria Moore (NAU): Moore chipped in 9 points, connecting on one of the team's rare three-pointers and contributing 2 steals.

  • Lauren Banks (XULA): Banks put on a scoring clinic, finishing with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal. She shot an efficient 7-of-14 from the field.

  • Kam Shelley (XULA): Shelley was unstoppable in the second half, hitting 4 three-pointers en route to an 18-point performance.

  • Janiya Reed (XULA): Reed dominated the glass, securing a game-high 9 rebounds and adding 12 points.

Team Breakdown
The Lady Stallions fought hard but were outmatched in several areas:

  • Turnovers: NAU committed 30 turnovers, leading to 20 steals for XULA.
  • Rebounding: Xavier controlled the boards with a 43-37 edge, including 17 offensive rebounds.
  • Shooting Efficiency: Xavier shot 47.2% from the field compared to NAU's 32.8%.

Looking Ahead
The Lady Stallions, now 8-11 overall and 6-9 in RRAC play, will look to regroup as they prepare for their next game. Assistant Coach Ja'Quia White noted, "Our team showed heart tonight. We'll focus on cleaning up our turnovers and continuing to build on our strengths."

XULA (17-0, 14-0 RRAC) will aim to keep their winning streak alive when they host Huston-Tillotson at 5:30 PM on Thursday.

NAU Fans, We Need You!
The Stallions need all hooves on deck as they charge into the back half of the season. Let's rally behind them and show our support!

Get those four-fingered hooves up and GOOOOOO STALLIONSSSS!!!

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