NEW ORLEANS — Matalya McBath-Belvin scored 19 of her season-high 32 points in the second half Friday to lead Langston to a 72-66 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the Xavier Classic.
     The Lady Lions (6-3) took the lead for good with 10 minutes remaining and ended Xavier's 39-game win streak in The Barn. Langston and Texas College both were 2-0 in the six-team event.
     McBath-Belvin, a 5-foot-3 senior guard, also had seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. She was 10 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 13 from the line.
     Teneisha McKinney added 11 points and Brittani Williams 10 for Langston, which has a three-game winning streak.
     Erica Turnbull led Xavier (5-3) with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Alissa Thompson scored a season-high 11 points. But leading scorer Jarryn Cleaves had just seven points — the first time this season she didn't reach double figures — and was 2 of 14 from the floor.
     Before Friday the Gold Nuggets' last loss in The Barn was 64-62 to Southern University of New Orleans on Feb. 7, 2002, and the last non-conference loss was 63-58 to Houston Baptist on Dec. 1, 2001.
     Langston limited Xavier to 32-percent shooting from the floor, including 2 of 18 from 3-point range.
     McBath-Belvin scored 57 points during this event. She had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists Thursday in an 83-70 victory against Tougaloo.
 

Thursday's Games
Langston 83, Tougaloo 70
Texas College 93, Dillard 81
Xavier 86, West Virginia Tech 60

Friday's Games
Texas College 71, Tougaloo 69
West Virginia Tech 82, Dillard 60
Langston 72, Xavier 66

Standings             Xavier Classic   Season
Langston                    2-0          6-3
Texas College               2-0          4-3
Xavier                      1-1          5-3
West Virginia Tech          1-1          7-2
Dillard                     0-2          0-6
Tougaloo                    0-2          1-3