ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball team fell to No. 18 Xavier University of Louisiana, 61-50.
 
The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak.
 
"When you play a good team like that you have to play four quarters," LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "We played about three quarters and four minutes. We'll hopefully rebound be better the next game."
 
Dannah Martin-Hartwick led the Generals (19-6, 16-5 RRAC) with 12 points. Benedetta Peracchi finished with eight points. LSUA recorded 20 points in the paint, 15 points off turnovers, 10 second chance points, and 11 bench points.
 
The Generals climbed out to a 9-2 lead over the first four minutes of play. A three from Alexis Dyer, a pair of free throws from Martin-Hartwick, and a pair of buckets from Justice Young made up the Generals' start. The Gold Nuggets (24-1, 21-1 RRAC) chipped the gap to just four points, 15-11, by the end of the first quarter.
 
A 9-0 for Xavier (La.) in the first four-and-a-half minutes of the second quarter put XULA on top 20-15. A three from Martin-Hartwick put an end to Xavier's run.
 
After a jumper from the Gold Nuggets, a free throw from Jones, a jumper from Reese Stephens, and a three from Amani Gray gave the Purple and Gold a 24-22 lead. LSUA took a 26-25 lead into halftime.
 
A flurry of scoring in the first three minutes of the third quarter pushed LSUA's lead to 38-33. Coming out of the halftime break Xavier (La.) and LSUA made the first eight combined baskets and two free throws before a shot missed the target. Jewel Jones and Martin-Hartwick converted threes during the stretch, while Gray and Peracchi combined for three layups.
 
The scoring slowed over the next five minutes, as LSUA clung to a slim lead. Back-to-back baskets XULA with under 90 seconds left in the third gave Xavier (La.) a 43-42 edge. A pair of free throws from Peracchi sent the Generals into the fourth quarter with a 44-43 advantage.
 
After trading the first two baskets of the period, LSUA led 47-45. A 12-0 run for the Gold Nuggets vaulted XULA to a 10-point lead, 57-47, with just three minutes left in regulation. Xavier (La.) held the Generals to just one field goal, a three from Jones, in the final two minutes.
 
LSUA is back in action on Thursday, February 13, as they host Our Lady of the Lake University at 5:30 PM in The Fort.