COLUMBIA, S.C. – Keondra Archie scored 22 of her game-high 26 points in the second half to help rally the Benedict College Lady Tigers over 22^nd-ranked Savannah State, 74-65, on Saturday, handing SSU its first loss of the season.

Benedict improves to 12-6 overall and 7-2 in the SIAC with its second victory of the season over a ranked opponent. Savannah State drops to 14-1 overall and 8-1 in the SIAC.

Archie scored eight points in the third quarter as the Lady Tigers cut an eight-point Savannah State lead to one point, 46-45, heading to the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, Archie made a layup to open the scoring and give Benedict its first lead since the first minute of the game. Archie scored 14 of Benedict's 29 points in the fourth quarter.

Archie also had 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Wykira Johnson-Kelly scored 15 points, all coming in the second half, while Ayanna Armstead chipped in with 13 points. Ay'Anna Bey contributed with 10 rebounds.

The Lady Tigers got off to a slow start, scoring just eight points in the first quarter on 3-of-14 shooting, while Bey and Johnson-Kelly, Benedict's top two scorers, were limited due to early foul trouble.

Benedict got behind by as much as 12 points, 21-9, in the second quarter before cutting the lead to 25-19 at the half after a 3-pointer by Armstead.

The Lady Tigers face off another nationally-ranked opponent on Wednesday night, when they host 16^th-ranked Valdosta State at 6:30 p.m. Benedict lost to Valdosta State 65-58 in the second game of the season in November.