SHREVEPORT, La. — Jasmine Grant scored a career-high 18 points Thursday, and Xavier University of Louisiana rallied in the second half for a 48-45 women's basketball victory over LSU-Shreveport in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
     The Gold Nuggets (8-5) ended their two-game losing streak and snapped the six-game winning streak of the Lady Pilots (7-2).
     Brittany Powell added 10 points — her fifth consecutive game in double figures — for Xavier, which trailed 23-15 at halftime but outscored LSUS 33-22 in the second half.
     Grant, playing in her hometown, also had four steals and made a career-best 7-of-8 free throws. It's the first time Grant has scored in double figures in consecutive games since doing it in four straight to open her collegiate career a year ago.
     Whitney Hollins scored 18 points and Tynequa Warren 12 for LSUS.
     It was the sixth time this season Xavier limited an opponent to 50 or fewer points. Xavier was 0-3 against LSUS in 2008-09, losing those games by a combined 11 points.
     Xavier's past three games have been decided by a combined five points. The Nuggets lost at home by two points to Lindsey Wilson on Saturday and by one point to NAIA No. 10 Campbellsville on Sunday.
     It was the 15th time 16 years that Xavier won its GCAC opener. The exception was this past season, when the Nuggets lost 60-55 at LSUS.
     The Nuggets will stay on the road and play Tougaloo in a GCAC game at 5 p.m. Saturday.