JACKSON, Tenn. – Junior Chelsea Passante scored a season-high 14 points, hitting four-of-five 3-point attempts, to lead the Benedict College Lady Tigers to a 61-54 victory over Lane College on Saturday.

The Lady Tigers improved to 6-1 overall and remained unbeaten in the SIAC with a 5-0 conference record.

Benedict built as much as a 19-point lead in the first half, and then held on as the Lady Dragons staged a late-game rally.

Passante's third 3-pointer of the game gave Benedict a 24-5 lead with 8:25 left in the first half. Lane's Angel Hornsburger hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half to make it 33-19 at the half.

A jumper by Santera Grooms gave Benedict a 45-30 lead with 12:57 left in the game, but Lane scored the next seven points to cut the lead to 45-37.

A 3-pointer by Ashlee Jones gave Benedict a 58-47 lead with 3:33 left in the game, but the Lady Dragons went on another run, scoring seven straight points to cut the lead to 58-54 with 1:34 left in the game. That was as close as Lane would get, as the Lady Tigers closed out the game hitting three of four free throws.

Ashlee Jones added 12 points for Benedict. Grooms had a team-high six rebounds.

Crystal Rayford led Lane, now 0-7 overall and 0-6 in the SIAC, with 15 points. Brittany Peters added 12 points and Hornsburger had 10 rebounds.

Benedict continues its road trip with a contest at Kentucky State on Monday.