SELMA, Ala. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers escaped with a 71-70 non-conference victory over Concordia-Selma on Monday night, scoring the final three points of the game in the last minute and 20 seconds.

Santera Grooms missed two free throws with eight seconds left and Benedict leading 71-70. Concordia got the rebound and Concordia-Semla's Ashley Ward's shot was blocked by Brittany Jackson. But Jackson was called for a foul, putting Ward on the line with 1.5 seconds on the clock. Ward missed both free throws and the Lady Tigers breathed a collective sigh of relief for the victory.

Grooms led Benedict with 25 points. Jackson added 17 points.

Benedict improves to 17-8 overall and plays its final home game and final regular-season SIAC contest on Wednesday against LeMoyne-Owen.

Concordia-Selma had a 40-33 lead at the half, thanks to four 3-pointers by Desiree Wilson. Wilson did not have another field goal in the  second half, but finished with a team-high 17 points for the Lady Hornets, now 16-13.

Concordia-Selma had a 57-50 lead with 9:35 to play when the Lady Tigers put together a 10-0 to take their first lead in the second half for a 60-57 with 6:44 to play.

The game stayed close the rest of the way.

Grooms tied the game at 70 with 1:02 on a layup after she rebounded her own missed shot.

Jackson missed two free throws with 38 seconds left, but then made one of two with 30 seconds left for a 71-70 lead.

The Lady Hornets had four chances from the free-throw line in the final 16 seconds, but missed them all.

Benedict shot a season-high 52.8 percent from the floor, but allowed Concordia-Selma to shoot 50 percent, the second-best effort this season against the Lady Tigers. Benedict out-rebounded Concordia-Selma 35-29.