NEW ORLEANS — Freshman Kyla Duncan had game highs of 22 points and eight rebounds Saturday, and Xavier University of Louisiana held on for a 75-71 women's basketball victory against Langston in the Xavier Classic.
     The Gold Nuggets (3-0) will play city rival Loyola, ranked 17th in the NAIA, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at XULA's Convocation Center.
     Duncan scored the most points by a XULA freshman since Johnna Williams had 23 against Belhaven on Feb. 9, 2008. Duncan was 11-of-16 from the floor in 26 minutes.
     Jas Hill had 17 points and Mikayla Bates 10 for XULA.
     Tennia Hill and Jhordyn Patton scored 21 points apiece for Langston (1-1). Orionna Shirley had nine assists but also committed nine turnovers.
     An Essence Wells 3-pointer at 1:50 of the third quarter put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 55-53. XULA maintained a single-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and closed the scoring when Maya Trench — fouled after her rebound of Hill's missed free throw — made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining.
     Langston committed 29 turnovers, eight in the fourth quarter.
     It's the first time in 16 years that the Gold Nuggets reached 75 points in each of the first three games of the season. XULA averaged 64.9 points per game last season.
     XULA is 29-5 all-time in the Xavier Classic, 8-3 in this event against Langston. The Gold Nuggets have a nine-game win streak in regular-season games.
     Coach Bo Browder's Gold Nuggets were the only 2-0 team in this event. LSU-Alexandria, led by Danyale Bayonne's 21 points and Courtney Dawsey's 14 points and 10 assists, defeated Florida Memorial 91-73 in Saturday's opening game. LSUA and Langston finished 1-1, and Florida Memorial was 0-2.