COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict Lady Tigers scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to build a 15-point lead and went on to take a 78-53 victory over Kentucky State University on Friday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
The Lady Tigers used strong defense and pressured the Thorobreds into 36 turnovers, and converted those into 34 points off turnovers.
 
The game was close in the first half, with Benedict holding its largest lead, 12-5, midway through the first quarter. In the second quarter, there were four lead changes, with Kentucky State holding its last lead at 25-23 with 3:57 remaining in the first half. Ghylissa Knowles knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Lady Tigers the lead and they never trailed again. Benedict had a 32-29 lead at the half.
 
The Lady Tigers turned up the heat in the third quarter. After Kentucky State cut the lead to 35-34, Benedict scored the next 14 points, including a span of six points in seven seconds. Benedict increased the lead to 66-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Alaysia Nash led the Lady Tigers with 22 points. Aaliyah Lawrence added 12 points and grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Gwendasia Page scored 10 points and had six steals. Derricka Millinghaus chipped in eight points, had six steals, six rebounds and a team-high six assists.
 
Benedict improves to 9-7 overall and 9-7 in the SIAC. Kentucky State falls to 3-15 overall and 3-12 in the SIAC.
 
Benedict takes to the road to take on LeMoyne-Owen College on Thursday and Lane College next Saturday. The next home game is Thursday, Feb. 5 against Miles College.