JACKSON, Tenn. – The Benedict College women's basketball team shot just 31 percent and had a long scoring drought in the first half, which helped West Florida take a 78-58 victory over Benedict in the opening round of the NCAA Division II women's South Region tournament on Friday night.

Benedict ends the season at 23-7. West Florida (20-8) advances to face top-seed Union University on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

West Florida's Jasmine Wigfall had a game-high 24 points.

Carissa Shropshire led Benedict with 14 points.

The first nine minutes of the game were close, as Britenique Harrison hit two free throws to tie the game at 14 with 11:07 left in the first half. The Argonauts outscored Benedict 27-5 over the rest of the first half to take a 22-point lead into the locker room. Benedict shot 21.9 percent in the first half and missed all six 3-point attempts.

Benedict rallied early in the second half to cut the lead to 11 points, 45-34, on a short jumper by KaDeeja Vaughn. A 10-2 run by West Florida pushed the lead back to 19 points. The Argonauts built the lead to as much as 27 points.

Vaughn added 11 points and Harrison scored 10 points.

Benedict, which came into the game as the nation's top team in rebounding margin, was outrebounded 44-32.