COLUMBIA, S.C. – Taylor Christmas scored a career-high 25 points and the Benedict College Lady Tigers led the entire way as they defeated Converse University 65-49 in a non-conference women's basketball contest on Monday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
Benedict scored the first 11 points of the game and had a decisive 22-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Benedict had as much as a 24 point lead in the second quarter and took a 34-11 lead at the half. Benedict held Converse to 4-of-28 (14.2 percent) shooting in the first half.
 
The Lady Tigers maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Valkyries pulled within 13 points, 53-40, with 5:28 remaining, but Christmas sank a 3-pointer, and Aaliyah Lawrence followed with a layup to push the lead back to 18 points. After Converse trimmed the lead with back-to-back baskets, Christmas hit another 3-pointer for a 61-44 lead with 3:05 remaining.
 
Alaysia Nash added 13 points for the Lady Tigers, while Lawrence had 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Benedict improves to 3-12 overall, while Converse falls to 5-10. Benedict avenged a season-opening loss to Converse by nearly the same score. Converse led the entire way and won 63-49 in Spartanburg on Nov. 14.
 
The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday with a SIAC clash against Albany State at 1 p.m. in the HRC Arena.