BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Benedict College women's basketball team advanced to the championship game of the SIAC Tournament with a 65-52 victory over LeMoyne-Owen College on Saturday in the Bill Harris Arena.

Benedict (23-5), the defending SIAC champions, advanced to the title game for the third year in a row.

Britenique Harrison continued her strong play in the SIAC tournament with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

LeMoyne-Owen used a pesky pressure defense to disrupt the Benedict offense and kept the game close for most of the contest. Benedict led 37-34 at the half, and had just a 48-45 lead midway through the second half.

In the second half, Benedict shot 50 percent (9-of-18) from the floor while holding LeMoyne-Owen to just 20 percent (7-of-35). The stifling Lady Tiger defense held the Lady Magicians' leading scorers, Tenesha Wright and Latrice Sears, to just six points combined in the final half.

Benedict outscored LeMoyne-Owen (19-9) 12-2 over the final five minutes of the game to pull away and put the game out of reach. The Lady Magicians missed their final 11 shots of the game.

Benedict also outrebounded LeMoyne-Owen 50-32 on Saturday.

Also stepping up for the Lady Tigers were KaDeeja Vaughn, who added 14 points and six boards, and Ta'Narnia Chisley, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Wright led the Lady Magicians with 14 points and also had five rebounds. Sears finished with 13 points, seven steals and five boards. Montique McConnell finished with nine points, five boards and four assists.

Benedict now moves on to the championship round where the Lady Tigers will face Albany State in a rematch of last year's championship game. The championship game will be played at 10 a.m. (CT) on Sunday.