JACKSON, Miss. — Brittany Powell scored 14 of her 24 points in the second half Saturday to help NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 62-53 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference victory against Belhaven.
     Both teams are 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the GCAC. Xavier ended a two-game losing streak and snapped Belhaven's three-game winning streak.
     Danielle Jones scored 11 of her career-high 14 points in the first half for the Gold Nuggets, and LaTashia Wise added nine.
     Jaelyn Stringer scored 15 points and Jira Williams 10 for Belhaven.
     There were nine ties and 14 lead changes before Jasmine Grant scored her only field goal with 16:06 remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay, 36-35. Powell, 5-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line in the second half, scored baskets on consecutive possessions to start the Nuggets' game-ending 9-1 run. Wise capped the scoring by going 4-of-4 from the line in the final minute.
     Belhaven outshot Xavier 37 to 34 percent from the floor, but the Nuggets outscored the Lady Blazers 26-13 from the line. The teams were a combined 0-of-9 from 3-point range.
     Xavier is 8-0 this season and has won 28 games in a row when allowing less than 60 points. Xavier leads the series 45-6 and has won 12 straight and 27 of the past 28 meetings.
     Belhaven lost at home for the first time in six games this season.
     Both teams will play GCAC opponents at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Xavier will play Tougaloo at The Barn — the Nuggets' first home game in 40 days — and Belhaven will travel to Mobile.