NEW ORLEANS — Junior center Keldra Hall's 10 points and 11 rebounds Monday led NAIA No. 17 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 56-41 women's basketball victory over William Carey.
     Hall, the Gold Nuggets' only double-figure scorer, recorded her fourth double-double of the season and her first in nine games. Jazmoné Kelly and Christina Warren scored nine points apiece for Xavier (15-4).
     All five XU starters scored in a 9-0 run during the first three minutes, and Xavier never lost the lead. The Nuggets led 33-22 at halftime, and the final margin was their largest of the game.
     Crystal Tucker scored 12 points for William Carey (4-8), which played for the first time in 23 days. Xavier limited Megan Reynolds and Hope Swindle, the Lady Saders' two scoring leaders this season, to a combined five points on 2-of-8 floor shooting.
     Xavier gained 28 turnovers, 16 by steals. Marchelle Jones had six steals to reach 201 in three seasons.
     The Gold Nuggets defeated the Lady Saders for the 18th consecutive time at The Barn. Xavier has won five straight and 103 of its last 110 games in its home facility.
     It was the 13th time this season Xavier allowed fewer than 50 points. The XU season record for 50-or-fewer performances on defense is 14 set in 1993-94 and tied last season. The Nuggets also climbed from second to first in NAIA Division I scoring defense; they're allowing 47.9 points per game.
     Xavier outshot William Carey 34 to 32 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Saders 35-30 — 23-11 in the second half.
     Xavier will play city rival Loyola at 5 p.m. Saturday at The Barn.