TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers saw a 12-point second-half lead slip away, and Stillman College surged to a big lead in overtime to take an 85-78 victory on Monday night.

Benedict led 30-21 at the half, and built the lead to 40-28 on a layup by Alexus Jones with 15:32 left in the second half. But then Stillman roared back by scoring 18 unanswered points to take a 46-40 lead with 11:13 to play.

A jumper by Monique Weathers snapped the scoring drought. With 7:27 left in the second half, Stillman maintained a 58-49 lead before Benedict rallied back. A 3-pointer by Weathers tied the game at 63 with four minutes remaining. Santera Grooms broke a 69-69 deadlock with a fast-break layup with 56 seconds left. Stillman's Jamila McKinnis tied the game with two free throws with 40 seconds left.

Benedict's Brittany Jackson missed a free throw with 35 seconds remaining, while LaTeia Brailey and Weathers each missed shots in the final six seconds, sending the game into overtime.

In the overtime period, Stillman scored the first nine points for an 80-71 lead. Benedict trimmed the lead to 82-78 on a 3-pointer by Brailey with 14 seconds on the clock, but Stillman sealed the game by sinking three free throws in the final 12 seconds for the win.

Grooms led Benedict with 19 points, while Jones and Weathers had 15 points each. Jackson and Brailey added 10 points each. Jones and Jackson pulled down 12 rebounds each for Benedict, while Grooms had 10 rebounds. Jones had a team-high seven assists.

Benedict falls to 11-5 overall and 10-4 in the SIAC with its second straight loss.

McKinnis had a game-high 21 points for Stillman, while Phyllice Eubanks added 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Stillman improved to 13-4 overall and 11-2 in the SIAC and moved into first place in the league race.

Benedict returns home to face Concordia-Selma in a non-conference matchup on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.