COLUMBIA, S.C. – Central State scored the final four points of the game to pull away from a tie game and edged the Benedict College Lady Tigers 85-81 in a SIAC women's basketball game on Thursday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
The Lady Tigers rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter, 67-58, to tie the game at 67 after a basket by Kayla Fisher. The contest remained close the rest of the way, with Benedict tying the game again at 81 after a layup by Alaysia Nash.
 
Central State scored after an offensive rebound with 1:13 left in the game to take the lead. Benedict missed four 3-pointers in the final minute, and Central State hit two free throws in the final 17 seconds to close out the game.
 
Ghylissa Knowles led Benedict with 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Nash added 12 points and Aaliyah Lawrence chipped in 11 points.
 
Benedict falls to 4-7 overall and 2-4 in the SIAC, while Central State improves to 6-5 overall and 5-1 in the SAIC.
 
Benedict returns to action in the HRC Arena on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Kentucky State.