COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers scored 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Central State and take a 66-48 SIAC women's basketball victory on Thursday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
The Lady Tigers had a 19-point lead in the third quarter, but Central State rallied to cut the lead to 47-40 with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter. Benedict hit a free throw, then got three consecutive 3-pointers, with Aaliyah Lawrence, Andrea Duncan and Miracle Millinghaus all connecting from long range. Two more free throws wrapped up the 12-0 run and gave Benedict a 59-40 lead with 3:45 left to play. A layup by Duncan gave Benedict its largest lead of the game, 63-42, with 2:46 on the clock.
 
Lawrence and Alaysia Nash led the Lady Tigers with 15 points each, while Duncan scored 13 points. Freshman Christyonna Jackson grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds. Benedict out-scored Central State 23-1 on second-chance points.
 
Benedict held Central State to just four points in the second quarter, to go from a 16-14 deficit to take a 32-19 lead at the half.
 
Benedict improves to 8-7 overall and 8-7 in the SIAC. Central State falls to 4-15 overall and 3-13 in the SIAC.
 
Benedict is back in action with a Friday matinee contest against Kentucky State at noon.