ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Jas Hill scored 18 points and Kyla Duncan 15 Saturday morning to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 61-45 women's basketball victory against Carlow in the UVI Thanksgiving Classic.
     The Gold Nuggets (7-3) won both their games in this event by double digits. They'll play host to SEC member Auburn at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Convocation Center.
     It was the sixth time this season that Hill and Duncan scored in double figures. Hill scored 13 second-half points and led the Gold Nuggets in scoring for a team-best fifth time this season. Duncan and Da'Jha Virgil had three steals apiece, and Caprice Taylor grabbed five rebounds to lead XULA for the second consecutive game.
     Emma Stille scored 14 points and was 6-of-7 from the floor for the Celtics (2-5), and Angelica Orozco scored 11. Stille grabbed a career-low three rebounds; she entered the game averaging 11.2 per game this season and 13.5 for her career.
     XULA led after every period, including 29-25 at halftime and 47-36 through three quarters. The Gold Nuggets outshot 40.4 to 32.6 percent from the floor, 52.6 to 23.8 percent in the second half.
     It was the first-ever matchup between the Catholic schools, both of which were founded during the 1920s. Carlow is in Pittsburgh and an NAIA Division II member.