COLUMBIA, S.C. – Savannah State University sank four free throws in the final 35 seconds to defeat Benedict College 73-71 in a SIAC women's basketball contest on Wednesday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
Alaysia Nash converted a three-point play with 54 seconds left to give Benedict a 71-69 lead. Benedict head coach James Rice was assessed a technical foul with 35 seconds left, and Savannah State sank the ensuing two free throws to tie the contest at 71. Benedict committed a foul with 12 seconds left and Savannah State sank those two free throws for the final margin. Benedict missed a shot with seven seconds left, and then turned the ball over with two seconds left.
 
Benedict falls to 3-17 overall and 1-12 in the SIAC. Savannah State improves to 13-4 overall and 10-3 in the SIAC.
 
Nash led Benedict with 17 points, while Madison Golden added 13 points. Taylor Christmas scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Aaliyah Lawrence also chipped in 10 points.
 
Savannah State had as much as an eight-point lead, 12-4, in the first quarter, but Benedict cut the lead to 23-21 at the end of the quarter. Savannah State scored the final seven points of the second quarter to take a 47-35 lead at the half. Savannah State built as much as a 16-point lead in the third quarter, 53-37, but Benedict rallied back to cut the lead to 59-53 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Benedict scored eight unanswered points in the fourth quarter, getting 3-pointers from Christmas and Kaya Evans, to tie the score at 65 with 4:37 remaining. The three-point play by Nash with 54 seconds left gave Benedict its first lead of the game.
 
Benedict has a rematch with Savannah State on Saturday in Savannah at 2 p.m.