SAVANNAH, Ga.-  Savannah State University used a big run to close out the third quarter in a 79-62 win over Benedict College in a game played in Tiger Arena on February 3, 2024.
 
Ahead 55-49 with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter, SSU closed the quarter by holding Benedict without a field goal during a 11-1 run. Nyla Allen scored nine points for Savannah State during the run while Mya Byrd added a pair of three throws.
 
Savannah State began the final quarter with a 9-2 run as Amani Hamilton scored seven points and Byrd added a layup as the Lady Tigers grabbed their largest lead of the game with 5:31 left at 75-52.
 
Benedict responded with eight unanswered points but SSU's lead never dipped below 15 the rest of the way.
 
A few days earlier on January 31 in Columbia, South Carolina, Savannah State led Benedict by 16 in the third quarter but withstood a BC rally and held on for a 73-71 victory.
 
In the rematch, Benedict came out hot as they jumped out to a 11-4 lead. SSU closed their gap to 13-12 after a free throw by Hamilton with 2:05 remaining but Benedict increased their advantage to 23-15 before Jashiyah Jones hit a jumper at the buzzer to slice the Lady Tigers deficit to six.
 
Down 26-20 at the 8:50 mark of the second quarter, Savannah State rallied to go ahead 31-29 with 4:25 left, following a pair of free throws by Jones.
 
With the Lady Tigers ahead 33-31 with 3:15 left, SSU ended the first half with a 9-3 surge to take a 42-34 lead into intermission.
 
The end of the half spurt was started by a jumper from Byrd, followed by three free throws by Jones, and jumpers by Aniaya Donaldson and Allen.
 
While outscoring Benedict 25-11 in the second quarter, the Lady Tigers made 58.3 percent of their shots from the field and made 10 of 11 free throw attempts.
 
SSU went ahead by nine early in the third quarter before Benedict battled back to get within 47-44 with 7:17 left.
 
Three-pointers by Allen and Byrd along with two free throws by Jones pushed the SSU lead to double digits at 55-45 with 5:36 on the clock.
 
After Benedict got within six, Savannah State closed the quarter with their 11-1 run.
 
SSU shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the third quarter while making all six of their free throw attempts.
 
Allen scored 22 points for Savannah State while Jones matched a career-high with 19 points to go along with her nine rebounds while going 11 for 11 from the free throw line.
 
Byrd notched 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals and Hamilton added 12 points.
 
Rounding out the SSU scorers were Amari Heard (seven points and six rebounds), Ja'Siiyah Holmes (three points and eight rebounds), Donaldson (two points) and Aaliyah Carlock (one point).
 
Aaliyah Lawrence had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Benedict (3-18, 1-13 SIAC).
 
Savannah State will be back in action on February 5, 2024 with a game against Allen University in Tiger Arena at 5:30 p.m. as they try to improve on their 14-4 overall record and 11-3 conference record.