COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College used a 15-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to take command and went on to take a 69-55 victory over Albany State in a SIAC women's basketball game on Monday evening in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
Albany State cut Benedict's lead to 44-43 with 9:10 left in the game before the Lady Tigers scored the next eight points. After a pair of Albany State free throws, Benedict went on a 14-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 69-49, with just over a minute remaining.
 
Benedict improves to 7-8 overall and 5-5 in the SIAC. Albany State falls to 7-8 overall and 4-8 in the SIAC.
 
Aaliyah Lawrence scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Lady Tigers, with seven points during that fourth-quarter surge. Taylor Christmas had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Alaysia Nash chipped in 13 points, with nine of those coming during that fourth-quarter spurt.
 
Benedict had a 33-21 lead at the half, but the Lady Golden Rams trimmed the lead to 39-37 with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers had a 44-39 lead heading into the final period. After Albany State cut the lead to 44-43 early in the fourth quarter, Benedict started their surge.
 
Benedict will return to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. home game against Edward Waters.