ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Xavier University of Louisiana won only 1-of-4 quarters Friday morning, but it was enough to spark a 61-51 women's basketball victory against the University of the Virgin Islands in the UVI Thanksgiving Classic.
     The Gold Nuggets (6-3) will play Carlow in this event at 8 a.m. AST Saturday — 6 a.m. New Orleans time.
     XULA outscored UVI 24-11 in the third quarter after trailing 27-24 at halftime. The Gold Nuggets increased their lead to 57-41 in the fourth quarter.
     Caprice Taylor and Kyla Duncan scored 12 points apiece for XULA, Gina Smith scored 11, and Da'Jha Virgil had eight.
     Taylor scored in double figures for the first time in seven games, and she grabbed a season-high eight rebounds. Duncan, a freshman, was 5-of-6 from the floor and scored in double figures for the fifth time in seven games. Smith scored in double figures for the second consecutive game.
     Virgil, a freshman, equaled her career best in assists with three and led XULA in that statistic for the first time.
     Rachel Harvey had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Bucs (3-7), and Asia Vetter scored 11. UVI lost for the sixth consecutive time.