DALLAS — Ashley Brooks scored 13 points Wednesday to help Jarvis Christian earn a 66-62 women's basketball upset of NAIA No. 16 Xavier University of Louisiana in the HBCU Classic.
     The Lady Bulldogs (4-4) never trailed and gave the Gold Nuggets (9-3) their second loss in three games.
     Freshman SiMon Franklin scored a season-high 16 points or Xavier, and Brittany Powell scored 16. Powell and Johnna Williams each grabbed nine rebounds.
     Xavier trailed 38-31 at halftime and had a chance to tie the score in the final minute — but Powell missed a layup with 45 seconds remaining and the Lady Bulldogs leading 61-59.
     Jarvis Christian outshot Xavier 46 to 32 percent from the floor. The Nuggets made 1-of-13 3-point attempts, and leading perimeter shooter Jasmine Grant was 0-of-8 from behind the arc.
     Shamiah Bryon scored 11 points for Jarvis Christian, the only women's team to go 2-0 in the event. The Lady Bulldogs beat Dillard 60-56 on Tuesday.
     "Jarvis Christian outplayed us," Xavier coach Bo Browder said. "They played good team defense. We've got to get better because we have some good teams coming up in conference."
     The Nuggets will open their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference schedule Jan. 8 at LSU-Shreveport, whose 8-1 record includes two victories against Jarvis Christian. The Lady Bulldogs' next game will be Jan. 8 at home against Texas Wesleyan in a Red River Athletic Conference opener.