LAKELAND, Fla. – Xavier (La.) University kept the (RV) Raven Women's Basketball team in check over the final 30 minutes of their meeting in the NAIA Opening Round presented by Ballogy.

The Golden Nuggets erased a one-point deficit after the first quarter to earn a 58-45 win over Benedictine to end the Ravens season at 17-9.

For the fourth time this season, Benedictine was held under 30 percent from the floor as they finished the game at 29.3 percent. Of those four games, the matchup with Xavier marked the second loss for Benedictine shooting under 30 percent from the floor.

Natalie Smaron gave the Ravens a 12-11 lead as time expired in the first quarter. The next five minutes of the second quarter went back and forth as the teams played through three ties three lead changes before Xavier closed the half on a 10-2 to take a 29-22 lead into the half.

Ali Brzozowski scored the first basket of the third quarter for the Ravens to close their deficit to five points. Sparked by the 3-point shot, Xavier pushed ahead of Benedictine over the next four minutes as they outscored the Ravens 11-4 to pull in front by double figures, 40-28.

Benedictine was able to close their deficit back down to single digits at nine points headed into the fourth quarter. Smaron connected on a free throw early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to eight, but that was all the closer the Ravens could get.

Smaron finished with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Aaliyah Raines gave the Ravens a spark off the bench, finishing with 7 points to round out the Ravens top scorers.