COLUMBIA, S.C. – Strong bench play helped lead the Benedict College Lady Tigers past Paine College, 82-53, on Saturday afternoon.

Benedict improves to 13-2 overall and 7-1 in the SIAC. Paine College falls to 5-10 overall and 4-4 in the SIAC.

Ayanna Armstead led the Lady Tigers with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Ay'Anna Bey added 16 points and five rebounds, while Amaya Ashby contributed with 13 points and four rebounds, while shooting 3-for-5 from the 3-point line.

During the first eight minutes of the first quarter, neither team would hold a lead larger than three points. In the final two minutes of the quarter, Benedict went on a 7-0 run to take a 20-11 lead after the first quarter.

The momentum for the Lady Tigers carried over to the second quarter, as they extended their lead to as much as 18 points, 38-20, with 2:23 left before halftime. In the final two minutes of the half, Paine went on a 13-4 run to pull within nine points, 42-33, leading into the break.

Benedict was a completely different team in the second half as they controlled the tempo. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Lions 24-10 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 66-43.

A 3-pointer by Ashby with 2:58 remaining in regulation gave Benedict their largest lead of the game, 80-50.

Benedict's bench outscored Paine 46-24 to help lead the Lady Tigers past the Lady Lions.

Benedict will travel to Allen University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.