NEW ORLEANS — Jasmine Grant scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half Thursday to lead NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 67-43 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Belhaven.
     The victory gives the Gold Nuggets (15-5) their first 8-0 start in the GCAC since the 2004-05 season.
     Grant, the Nuggets' only double-figure scorer, hit three 3-pointers in the first half to lead Xavier to a 34-13 advantage at the break.
     XU's Brittany Powell, the reigning NAIA Division I, Louisiana and GCAC Player of the Week, scored just seven points after averaging 27.3 in the previous three games. But all 10 of her teammates scored, and the Nuggets' bench produced 31 points.
     Jira Williams, with 11 points, was the only double-figure scorer for Belhaven (12-7, 3-5).
     Xavier outshot the Blazers 45 to 33 percent from the floor, and Belhaven was 0-of-15 from 3-point range. It's the 10th time this season Xavier allowed 50 or fewer points.