COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers held off a late surge by the Claflin University Lady Panthers to take a 48-45 victory on Thursday at the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Benedict led 48-32 with 4:53 left in the game, but didn't score again, as Claflin clawed back to cut the lead three points with 46 seconds left, and then missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left.

Benedict improved to 11-3 overall and 10-2 in the SIAC, remaining in first place. Claflin dropped to 4-12 overall and 4-11 in the SIAC.

Santera Grooms led Benedict with 12 points, while Bridget Williams added 11.

Benedict built a 14-point lead in the first half on a jumper by Grooms with 4:19 left. Benedict took a 32-22 lead into the half.

The Lady Tigers kept a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half. But Benedict's second-half shooting struggles prevented the Lady Tigers from putting the game out of reach.

Benedict made just six field goals in the second half, and five of those were in the first 10 minutes. After shooting 46.7 percent in the first half, the Lady Tigers dropped to 30 percent in the second half. Benedict also committed 25 turnovers in the game, 14 in the second half. Benedict was also 3-of-7 from the free-throw line in the second half, and 7-of-14 for the game.

A 3-pointer by Brittani Goodwin with 3:29 left brought the lead under double-figures for the first time since the first half at 48-39. A three-point play by Tylesha Brown with 57 seconds left cut the lead to 48-43, and Talaya Robinson made it 48-45 on a jumper with 46 seconds left. A Benedict turnover gave the ball back to Claflin, but the Lady Panthers had two chances in the final 10 seconds, including missing a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left. Grooms grabbed the rebound and Benedict held on for the victory.

Robinson led Claflin with 15 points, while Tylesha Brown added 11.

Benedict hits the road for a pair of games, traveling to Tuskegee on Saturday and Stillman on Monday.