VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Benedict College women's basketball team had a seven-point second-half lead slip away as 15^th-ranked Valdosta State took a 65-58 victory on Saturday.

Benedict had a 31-26 lead at the half, and Keondra Archie opened the second half with a jumper for a 33-26 lead. Valdosta State rallied to tie the score at 36 and took the lead, 38-36, with 1:04 left in the third quarter.

The Lady Tigers tied the game in the fourth quarter, 43-43, on a layup by Archie. Valdosta State outscored Benedict 10-3 for a 53-46 lead with 5:46 left to play. Valdosta State built the lead to as much as 12 points, 63-51, with 33 seconds left.

Archie led the Lady Tigers with 21 points, by not missing a shot. She was 10-for-10 from the floor and made her only free-throw attempt. Ay'Anna Bey added 12 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Benedict struggled from long range, connecting on just three of 24 3-point attempts.

The Lady Tigers, now 1-1 on the season, take on sixth-ranked North Georgia in their home opener on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.