SHREVEPORT, La. — Valerie Huizar had 20 points and five assists Thursday to lead LSU-Shreveport to a 60-55 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over NAIA No. 22 Xavier University of Louisiana.
     It was the GCAC opener for both teams.
     Johnna Williams scored a season-high 14 points for Xavier (9-4), and Brittany Powell had 12 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
     Huizar was the only Lady Pilot to score in double figures. LSUS (11-1) led 27-26 at halftime and scored the final six points after Powell's basket at 2:02 gave the Gold Nuggets a 55-54 lead.
     LSUS limited Xavier to its fewest points in a game this season and snapped the Nuggets' 14-game winning streak in GCAC openers.
     LSUS extended its school-record winning streak to nine games and is 4-0 at home this season. Xavier has a two-game losing streak for the first time this season and has dropped three of its past four.
     Xavier's next game will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at Belhaven in Jackson, Miss. Belhaven won its GCAC opener 64-59 Thursday at Spring Hill. The next LSUS game will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at home against Spring Hill.