COLUMBIA, S.C. – A strong fourth quarter powered the Benedict College Lady Tigers over the Lane College Dragons, 67-59 on Saturday in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
Benedict improves to 10-2 overall and 4-1 in the SIAC. Lane College drops to 3-8 overall and 2-3 in the SIAC.
Ay'Anna Bey led the Lady Tigers with 24 points and nine rebounds, while shooting 13-of-15 from the free-throw line.
Ayanna Armstead added 13 points and six rebounds, while knocking down three 3-point shots on the contest.
The Lady Tigers got out to a slow start shooting 2-for-12 from the floor in the first quarter. The Lady Dragons jumped out to an 11-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. A three-pointer by Bey would finally get Benedict on the board.
Lane College would hold a 26-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers would bounce back in the second quarter with a spark from Armstead. A jumper and a three-point shot by Armstead would close the gap to nine, 27-18, with 8:33 on the clock.
Benedict would come as close as six points, 37-31, after a three-point play by
Octavia Hawkins, but Lane College would keep answering back. The Lady Dragons held a 40-31 lead at the half..
A three-pointer by Bey and Armstead would start a run for the Lady Tigers, closing the gap to five.
Wykira Johnson-Kelly would hit a jump shot for Benedict, making the score 44-41 with 5:28 left in the third. Lane College would hang on to a 49-46 lead after three quarters of play.
Bey would score the first six points for the Lady Tigers in the fourth quarter, giving Benedict their first lead of the game, 52-50, with 8:33 left in regulation. A pair of free throws from Bey capped off a 10-0 run and gave the Lady Tigers a 62-53 lead. Benedict would not look back, hanging on for their 10th victory of the season.
Bench points were key once again for the Lady Tigers as they outscored Lane College 38-24 in this category.
Benedict takes a break for the Christmas holiday and will return to action on Jan. 4 with a road trip to Tuskegee University at 1 p.m.
