NEW ORLEANS — Jarryn Cleaves scored 23 points and Erica Turnbull 16 Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 76-62 women's basketball exhibition victory against the Nashville All-Stars at The Barn.
     It was the lone preseason contest for the Gold Nuggets, who will open the regular season at 6 p.m. Thursday at Langston.
     Cleaves, a senior guard and a three-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selection, scored 17 first-half points and put the Nuggets ahead to stay at 8-6 with consecutive 3-pointers in the first two minutes. Turnbull, a senior forward/center and an All-GCAC selection this past season, scored 12 points in the second half and led Xavier for the game with eight rebounds.
     Xavier led 41-31 at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Nuggets took their largest lead, 67-41, on freshman Danielle Jones' 3-pointer with 10:33 remaining.
     Jones and Tiffany Norris scored nine points apiece, and senior Patrice Hawkins came off the bench to contribute six points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes.
     Tonisha Jones scored 19 of her 30 points in the second half for the All-Stars, who are composed of former college players, and C'Kala Humes scored 14.
     Xavier outshot the All-Stars 46 to 31 percent from the floor.
     Four Xavier freshmen combined for 16 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Jones grabbed six rebounds. Shayla Boyd started at point guard and had seven points, six assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes.
     Xavier won its exhibition game for the second consecutive season.
     Nashville's next exhibition will start at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Lane College.