XULA women's basketball has historic undefeated streak

A historic year for Xavier University of Louisiana's women’s basketball team has featured 18 straight wins in NAIA competition, an undefeated mark thus far that has them ranked #21 in the national polls. It is the first such streak to open a season for men’s or women’s basketball at the school since 1941.

Led by Coach Robert “Bo” Browder and a balanced scoring attack from freshman Kam Shelley and graduate transfers Lauren Banks and Joy Campbell, the Gold Nuggets squad has achieved heights not seen in roughly a decade, with the team reaching the NAIA Division I championship in the 2015-16 season.

“Xavier’s always been one of the top programs in the NAIA, but this year is really special because right now, you know, all eyes are on us,” Browder told WGNO’s Megan Glover after the team’s win against Huston-Tillotson on Jan. 16.

“We’re undefeated, and the longer we keep winning, the more the pressure builds up.”

As of Monday, the Catholic HBCU is one of just six NAIA women’s teams to remain undefeated on the season, having lost only exhibition games to NCAA Division I opponents—Louisiana State University in October, and Grambling State in early November.

Their wins have included a triumph on the road over then #25-ranked Loyola New Orleans on Nov. 18, and another road win against LSU-Shreveport on Dec. 2. A week after the latter victory, the Gold Nuggets entered the NAIA coaches poll for the first time in five years, coming in at #25. They have risen steadily in the months since, racking up wins in the Red River Athletic Conference to reach a current mark of 15-0. 

They jumped four spots in the rankings on Jan. 15 after losses suffered by Concordia, Mayville State, and Indiana Tech. The same day, Browder was named WHoopDirt.com’s NAIA Coach of the Week.

The Gold Nuggets feature several notable offensive talents, including fifth-year senior Zaria Harleaux, who sits near the top of the RRAC in field goal percentage, and freshman guard Shania Swan, who is shooting a 39.1% clip from distance—good for fourth-best in the conference. Shelley, averaging 15.1 points per game, is seventh-best in the conference and one of three teammates in the top 20.

XULA is also one of the best defending teams in the conference, led by Campbell, who is top 10 in the nation in steals and assists and has thrice been named RRAC women’s defensive player of the week. 

“I've never been a part of a collegiate program that's doing so much winning in a row,” Campbell told Glover. 

“So it's an amazing feeling, but we kind of celebrate after the game, you know. We get excited, we do our high fives, we know we're whatever-and-0. And after that, it's kind of like, ‘OK, lock in.’”

The XULA team as a whole allows less than 59 points per game—a mark second only to LSU-Shreveport, an unranked team nevertheless receiving votes in the coaches poll, with a record of 16-3 (15-1 in the RRAC).

LSUS will bring a defense ranked third in the nation and an eleven-game winning streak to New Orleans when they face the Gold Nuggets in a Tuesday showdown at the XULA Convocation Center. The game was originally set for two different dates last week, both of which were rescheduled due to historic snowfall in the Crescent City.

A win for the Gold Nuggets would extend their history-making win streak, which is currently second only to the 1940-41 men’s basketball team, which finished the season at 29-0.

The women’s matchup against LSUS will tip off on Tuesday at 5:30pm CT, with streaming available on YouTube. In-person tickets are available online and purchases can also be made at the door.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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