FRANKFURT, Ky. – Kentucky State placed five players in double figures and scored the final seven points of the game to edge the Benedict College Lady Tigers 82-79 in a SIAC women's basketball contest on Monday night.
 
The Lady Tigers shot a season-high 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the floor and scored a season-high 79 points in the loss. Benedict falls to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the SIAC. Kentucky State improves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SIAC.
 
Taylor Christmas scored a season-high 19 points, while Ghylissa Knowles also scored a season-high 19 points. Kaya Evans also had a season-high with 12 points.
 
The game was close throughout. Kentucky State built a five-point lead early in the first quarter, but the Lady Tigers rallied back to take a six-point lead, 23-17, on a 3-pointer by Knowles. Benedict had a 23-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
A 3-pointer by Evans early in the second quarter gave Benedict its largest lead of the game, 33-24. Kentucky State cut the lead to 46-44 at the half. The Thorobreds took their largest lead of the game, 54-48, in the third quarter, but Benedict cut the lead to 59-58 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
A 3-pointer by Knowles gave Benedict a 71-64 lead early in the fourth quarter. Kentucky State cut the lead to one point before Christmas hit a pair of free throws to make it 79-76 with 2:13 left in the game. The Lady Tigers missed two shots and had two turnovers over the final two minutes as Kentucky State rallied to win the game.
 
Benedict is back in action on Saturday with a 6 p.m. home contest against Johnson C. Smith.