FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Brittany Powell had 18 points and eight rebounds Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 79-54 women's basketball victory over Edward Waters in the HBCU Preseason Challenge.
     It was the regular-season opener for the Gold Nuggets, who defeated Florida Memorial 69-55 Friday in this event — but Xavier counted that result as an exhibition.
     Jasmine Grant scored 12 points, all on 3-pointers, for Xavier, and Johnna Williams had eight points and seven rebounds.
     Ebony Presha scored 17 points for Edward Waters (0-3), and Phadra Thomas and Ashley Hamm scored 10 apiece.
     Xavier led 39-28 at halftime and built the lead to 30 points in the second half.
     Powell had 42 points and 16 rebounds in the Nuggets' two games in this event.
     Xavier was 2-0 in this event. So was Bethune-Cookman, an 83-69 winner over Florida Memorial in Saturday's second game.
     Xavier will play its home opener at 6 p.m. Monday against Huston-Tillotson at The Barn.