NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana made eight first-half 3-pointers Saturday and rolled to a 65-43 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Dillard in the opening game of the Crosstown Classic at the Convocation Center.
     The Gold Nuggets (13-11, 4-5) outscored the Lady Bleu Devils (9-16, 3-7) in every quarter and produced the biggest winning margin in this series since 2013.
     Shaelynn Moore, a fifth-year player who once starred for Dillard, scored 13 points for XULA. Da'Jha Virgil scored 11 points, Kyla Duncan 10 and Jalyn Hodge nine.
     Hodge, Moore and Virgil made three 3s apiece. Hodge's total was a season high, and she made all her treys in the first half. XULA led 39-27 at halftime and 51-36 through three quarters.
     XULA finished with 11 3s, one fewer than the school record.
     Jabria Pounds had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Dillard, and teammate Jaquanna Hunter grabbed 13 rebounds. But the Gold Nuggets — led by Duncan's eight rebounds, Gina Smith's seven and six apiece by Virgil and Maya Trench — won the boards 52-35.
     Trench and Abryhia Irons had four assists apiece, and Irons equaled her career best.
     The Gold Nuggets limited Dillard to 25.4 percent from the floor, including 2-of-20 3-pointers.
     XULA play host to GCAC and city rival SUNO at 5:30 p.m. Monday.