TEXARKANA, Texas — Janiya Reed scored 12 points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the third quarter Thursday to power NAIA No 18 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 72-55 victory against Texas A&M-Texarkana in Red River Athletic Conference women's basketball.
        The Gold Nuggets (22-1 overall, 19-1 RRAC) won their fourth in a row and remained tied for first place in the conference with LSU-Shreveport, a 77-48 winner at Huston-Tillotson.
        XULA led 32-29 at halftime after scoring the first 15 points, then Reed took control during a 14-3 run to start the second half. Her 3-pointer at 4:33 of the third quarter gave the Gold Nuggets a 46-32 lead. They led by double digits the final 16 minutes, and Kam Shelley's basket in the 36th minute made it 67-41.
        Shelley had 17 points and six rebounds, both XULA highs. Reed — 5-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 on 3-pointers — scored a season-high 14 points. Lauren Banks scored 13 points and made 9-of-10 free throws.
        Lex Foster made 4-of-6 3-pointers and scored a season-high 22 points for the Eagles (7-17, 7-13).
        XULA outshot the Eagles 38.7 to 32.1 percent from the floor and was plus-16 in turnovers, committing nine and gaining 25. Joy Campbell had four of the Gold Nuggets' 12 steals.
        The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and visit Red River opponent Jarvis Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hawkins, Texas. The final XULA home appearance of the regular season will be the Crosstown Classic doubleheader Feb. 18 against Dillard at the Convocation Center.