NEW ORLEANS — Jazmoné Kelly scored a career-high 19 points Saturday, and Xavier University of Louisiana pulled away in the final three minutes for a 64-52 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over SUNO at The Castle.
     The Gold Nuggets (11-5 overall, 4-0 GCAC) took sole possession of first place in the conference. They began the day tied with William Carey, which lost 64-51 at LSU-Shreveport.
     Xavier never trailed but needed an 11-1 run in the final three minutes to increase its 53-47 lead to 64-49. Kelly started the burst by making two free throws, and SiMon Franklin scored six points.
     Brittany Powell added 16 points for Xavier — it was her eighth consecutive game in double figures — and LaTashia Wise grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. Powell blocked two shots and led the Nuggets with a career-high-tying four steals.
     Jessica Adams, with 13 points, was the only double-figure scorer for SUNO (7-3, 1-3).
     Kelly's basket at 14:31 gave the Nuggets a 14-5 lead, but SUNO rallied to tie the score at 19 and 24 in the final seven minutes of the first half. Xavier led 28-24 at halftime.
     Xavier outshot the Lady Knights 38 to 34 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 45-32. The Nuggets made 22-of-29 free throws to reach 75 percent for the fourth consecutive game.
     Both teams will play GCAC road games at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Xavier will visit Mobile, and SUNO will travel to William Carey.