NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright scored nine of her 12 points in the second half Saturday to help NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 63-56 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Dillard at Dent Hall.
     The Gold Nuggets (20-9, 10-2) closed the regular season with their third consecutive victory. They reached 20 victories for the 13th consecutive season and the 21st time in the last 22 seasons. Xavier will play in the quarterfinals of the GCAC Tournament in New Orleans on Thursday; seedings, pairings and game times will be announced Sunday.
     After a halftime tie at 25, five Gold Nuggets scored during a decisive 14-2 run in the first five minutes of the second half. Chelsea Broussard capped the run at 15:24 to give Xavier its largest lead, 39-27. Dillard never got closer than six points thereafter.
     Gathright, a sophomore guard, scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game and a team-leading 19th time this season. She made both XU 3-pointers and had six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
     Vinnie Briggs scored 10 points for Xavier, and Danielle Tucker and Whitney Gaston-Loyd had eight apiece. Paige Gauthier had seven points, seven rebounds and six assists. Tucker had four of the Nuggets' 14 steals.
     Keylantra Taylor had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Dillard (3-15, 3-9), and Julia Hendrieth scored 10 points on 5-of-5 from the floor.
     Xavier shot 48.9 percent from the floor — its second-best performance of the season — and limited the Lady Bleu Devils to 38.2 percent. The Nuggets had 16 assists on 23 field goals and blocked six shots, three by Broussard.
     Xavier spent 35 minutes with the lead. Dillard led for 90 seconds late in the first half.
     Xavier defeated its city rival for the 11th consecutive time and the 20th time in the last 21 meetings. The Gold Nuggets lead the series 61-19.