FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers saw a eight-point second-half lead slip away as Fort Valley State rallied to take a 61-58 victory and remain in first place in the SIAC standings on Thursday night.

Benedict had a 28-26 lead at the half, and built a 35-27 lead early in the second half by scoring seven straight points. Even after Fort Valley State cut into the lead, a 3-pointer by Santera Grooms gave Benedict a 42-35 lead with 11:15 left in the game.

That's when the Lady Wildcats went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead in the second half, with Brandi Haynes capping off the run with a 3-pointer with 9:42 to play. Benedict never regained the lead, although the Lady Tigers did tie the game on two occasions, the final time with at 50 on a jumper by Grooms with 7:30 to play.

A layup by Grooms cut the lead to 57-56 with 1:52 left in the game, but the Lady Wildcats made four of six free-throws in the final 1:15 of the game to hang on to the victory.

Benedict drops to 15-8 overall and 13-7 in the SIAC. Grooms led the Lady Tigers with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Brittany Jackson also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Monique Weathers chipped in with 10 points.

Fort Valley State rallied in the second half despite shooting just 23.5 percent and making just one 3-pointer on six attempts. Benedict shot 34 percent in the second half and 32 percent for the game, but made just two of 11 3-point attempts in the second half. Benedict out-rebounded Fort Valley State 52-44, but committed 19 turnovers.

Yasheeka Jones had 19 points to lead Fort Valley State, now 18-6 overall and 16-4 in the SIAC.

Benedict is at Paine College on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest in Augusta, Ga.