COLUMBIA, S.C. –The Benedict College Lady Tigers played even with the nation's preseason top-ranked Division I team for the first quarter before the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks used their superior talent, height, depth and speed to take a 98-41 victory in an exhibition game Monday night in the Colonial Life Arena.

Benedict had a 17-14 lead over the Lady Gamecocks after a Keondra Archie jumper with 2:36 left in the first quarter. South Carolina scored the final six point of the quarter, then outscored Benedict 28-8 in the second quarter and cruised the rest of the way.

Still, Benedict coach James Rice said it was a good experience for the Lady Tigers, who start the season as the preseason favorite to win the SIAC and could find themselves nationally ranked when the WBCA preseason poll is released Tuesday.

"I was proud. I know we can compete, before the fatigue set in," Rice said. "It's sad we only lasted for a quarter. But we've only been practicing for about 12 days. I was happy with the first quarter. I know we can compete with anybody in the nation in Division 2. But Division 1, after your players in the rotation get tired, you tend to drop off and they're still bringing in shifts of super talented players."

The Lady Tigers connected on 6-of-17 shots (35.3 percent) in the first quarter, but then made only 8-of-47 shots (17 percent) over the final three quarters. The Lady Gamecocks, led by 6-foot-5 All-American Aliyah Boston and 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso, a former ACC Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while at Syracuse, blocked 12 Benedict shots. Cardoso led South Carolina with 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots. Saniya Rivers, last year's high school national player of the year, had 11 points and two blocks in her collegiate debut.

Wykira Johnson-Kelly led Benedict with 12 points, while Ayanna Armstead added 10 points.

"They're at a different level," Rice said about the Lady Gamecocks. "They've got some kids that are super skilled, athletic, long and you can tell they're in shape. That's a really good team. I think they're going to win a national championship."

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was complimentary of the Lady Tigers, but knew the depth and talent-level of the Lady Gamecocks made this a significant mismatch.

"Benedict's well coached. They understand that coming into this game what they had to do. The 3-point shot was a weapon for them coming in and they hit some early to stretch us out a little bit," Staley said. "I thought they were tough, meaning tough-minded. They played with a lot of energy. But I think they just got out-talented. I don't know if we got out-worked. I don't know if we out-worked them. I think we out-talented them. We enjoyed having them and playing against them. We do get something out of it. They're well coached and it was a great exhibition game for us."

Benedict will open the 2021-22 regular season on Nov. 12 against the University of West Florida in the Lady Blazer GSC/SIAC Basketball Challenge, hosted by Valdosta State in Valdosta, Ga.