ORANGEBURG, S.C. – LeAnna Morrison scored a season-high 19 points to help lead the Benedict College women's basketball team to a 71-62 victory over Claflin University on Wednesday night in Tullis Arena.
The Lady Tigers won their 10th straight game and improved to 16-7 overall and 12-1 in the SIAC. Benedict has clinched the top spot in the SIAC East Division for the upcoming SIAC Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. Claflin falls to 14-9 overall and 9-4 in the SIAC.
MiKeisha Moore added 13 points for the Lady Tigers.
Benedict scored the first 12 points of the game and never trailed. Claflin got as close as 15-14 with 7:10 left in the second quarter, but Michala Robinson answered with a 3-pointer to put the Lady Tigers back up by four points. Benedict had a 34-26 lead at the half.
Benedict built as much as a 15-point lead in the third quarter, 41-26, but Claflin cut the lead to 45-37 heading into the final period. Claflin trimmed the lead to 45-43 with 8:11 to play, but Benedict responded by scoring the next six points, including a pair of baskets by Shirvel Luke. Another basket by Luke made it 56-45 with 5:59 on the clock.
Claflin cut the lead to 63-60 on a 3-pointer by Briana Chisolm with 1:55 remaining, but that was as close as the Lady Panthers would get down the stretch. The Lady Tigers hit their next five free throws for a 68-60 lead with just over a minute left to play.
The Lady Tigers forced 25 Claflin turnovers and outscored the Lady Panthers 25-7 in points off turnovers. Shirvel Luke and Simone Roberts had three steals each.
Carnique Marks led Claflin with a game-high 21 points.
Benedict travels to face Clark Atlanta for a 6 p.m. game on Saturday, then wraps up the regular season on Monday, when the Lady Tigers host Paine College at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Tigers will recognize their three senior players.
