NEW ORLEANS — Jarryn Cleaves had 21 points and nine rebounds Saturday to lead NAIA No. 24 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 59-40 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Tougaloo at The Barn.
     Johnna Williams had 11 points for the Gold Nuggets (21-5 overal, 11-3 GCAC) and a career-high four blocked shots. Williams blocked Tougaloo's first three shots.
     Erica McElroy led Tougaloo (7-17, 5-9) with 18 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
     Xavier, which has a four-game winning streak, never lost the lead after LaTashia Wise's basket 32 seconds into the game. The Nuggets led 34-16 at halftime and twice built the lead to 29 points in the final eight minutes.
     Xavier shot 33 percent from the floor, and Tougaloo shot 32. Tougaloo had a 51-32 rebound advantage, but the Lady Bulldogs committed 31 turnovers, 18 more than Xavier. The Nuggets had 22 steals, including career highs of eight by Alissa Thompson and five by Shayla Boyd.
     It was the first time since November 2004 that the Nuggets allowed less than 45 points in consecutive games.
     Both teams will play GCAC games at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Spring Hill will visit Xavier, and Tougaloo will travel to Mobile.