AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Benedict College women's basketball team outscored Paine College 18-3 over the final five and a half minutes to take an 82-67 SIAC victory on Thursday night in the HEAL Complex.

Benedict improves to 9-15 overall and 9-7 in the SIAC. Paine falls to 1-22 overall and 0-17 in the SIAC.

The game was close, with Benedict leading by as much as seven points in the first quarter before Paine cut the lead to 19-15 at the end of the period. In the second period, the Lady Tigers never led by more than three points and had a 34-31 lead at the half. Benedict had as much as a 51-44 lead in the third quarter before Paine cut the lead to 57-54 heading into the final quarter.

Paine took its first lead of the second half, 60-59, on a layup by Pedrica Bain. Benedict pushed the lead to 64-60 before Paine came back to tie the score at 64 on a pair of free throws with 5:34 remaining. Ayanna Armstead started Benedict's late surge with a 3-pointer, then added another 3-pointer for a 70-64 lead with 4:56 remaining. Ay'Anna Bey hit a 3-pointer for Benedict's third trey in a row for a 73-64 lead.

MiKeisha Moore led Benedict with a season-high 20 points. Andresha Smith had her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Bey scored 17 points, while Armstead chipped in 14 points, and Shanaissa White matched her season-high with 13 points.

Benedict had a commanding 61-37 rebounding advantage and outscored the Lady Lions 33-3 in second-chance points.

The Lady Tigers wrap up the regular season on Saturday at Claflin, starting at 1 p.m.