NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore forward Gina Smith had career highs of 23 points and four blocked shots Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 76-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.
     Smith was 11-of-15 from the floor in 24 minutes and grabbed eight rebounds in the Gold Nuggets' sixth consecutive GCAC victory. Smith's previous point high was 14 as a freshman.
     Mikayla Bates and Dasia Pitre scored 14 points apiece for XULA (13-11. 6-5). Bates and Maya Trench grabbed seven rebounds apiece, and Trench had eight assists.
     Debraia Bell had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs (10-15, 4-7), and Melissa Creese had nine points and six assists.
     XULA led the final 37 1/2 minutes and built its largest lead, 76-42, on Nicole Swift's basket with three minutes remaining.
     The Gold Nuggets outshot the Lady Bulldogs 45.9 to 34.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 51-25. XULA had eight first-half blocks and 11 for the game, its most since blocking 11 at Lee (Tenn.) on Nov. 15, 2008.
     XULA will close the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday GCAC home game against Talladega, then play Friday in the GCAC Tournament first round at SUNO's The Castle.