NEW ORLEANS — Jarryn Cleaves and Dominee Matthews scored 19 points apiece Saturday to rally NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 66-53 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Dillard at The Barn.
     Xavier (16-6 overall, 8-1 GCAC) maintained sole possession of first place and extended its winning streak at The Barn against conference opponents to 30 games.
     Dillard (1-16, 1-8) led 30-22 at halftime before Cleaves scored nine points during a 22-3 run that gave Xavier the lead for good.
     Cleaves also had five rebounds, a career-high three blocked shots and a season-high five steals.
     Xavier's Erica Turnbull scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to match the career high she set Thursday.
     Roshawnda Bolton scored 19 points and Monique Reece 10 for Dillard. Xavier outshot Dillard 34 to 26 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Blue Devils 57-43.
     The victory was the fifth in row for Xavier against its longtime city rival. The Gold Nuggets lead the series 46-18, including 27 victories in the last 32 games.
     Xavier's next game will start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against GCAC opponent Spring Hill at The Barn. Xavier has won 55 of its last 61 GCAC games and 44 of its last 45 games in its campus gymnasium.