COLUMBIA, S.C. – Savannah State University built a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter and then held off a late rally by Benedict College to take a 77-69 victory in a SIAC women's basketball game on Monday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
The game was close throughout the first half, with Benedict holding a 33-32 lead at the half. Savannah State started to pull away late in the third quarter with a 7-0 run and took a 54-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Savannah State scored the first eight points in the fourth quarter to build the lead to 62-46, and had a 69-49 lead with 3:46 left in the game. Benedict fought back with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 69-58 with 2:35 left to play. After a basket by Savannah State, Benedict used another 9-0 run, capped off by a layup by Taylor Christmas, to make it 71-67 with 1:17 remaining. Savannah State scored with 58 seconds left, and Alaysia Nash hit a jumper with 40 seconds on the clock to make it 73-69. Savannah State then sealed the game with four free throws in the final 32 seconds.
 
Nash led the Lady Tigers with a career-high 23 points. Aaliyah Lawrence added 10 points.
 
Savannah State improved to 9-8 overall and 5-6 in the SIAC. Benedict falls to 7-10 overall and 5-7 in the SIAC.
 
The Lady Tigers return to action on Wednesday night with a non-conference matchup against rival Claflin University at 5:30 p.m. in the HRC Arena.