COLUMBIA, S.C.- Savannah State had four players finish in double figures but came up short in their 76-71 loss to Benedict on Wednesday evening in a game played at HRC Arena.

SSU rallied from a 21-point third quarter deficit and out-scored Benedict 22-8 in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Tigers pulled to within three with nine seconds remaining but Benedict finished the game with a pair of free throws to win the game.

Benedict opened the game with a 12-0 run but Savannah State answered with a 14-1 run to take a 14-13 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter.

Down 18-14, SSU finished the quarter with two free throws and a layup by Ansley Hicks to tie the game at 18.

Savannah State began the second quarter with baskets from Jazmin Thornton and Jaliyah Harper to go ahead 22-18.

With the game knotted at 24 with 6:56 left in the second quarter, Benedict began to pull away as they ended the quarter with a 15-2 spurt, taking a 39-26 lead into intermission.

Early in the third quarter the Lady Tigers fell behind by 21 and ended the quarter trailing 68-49.

A layup by Harper, a jumper by Hicks and a 3-pointer by Harper trimmed SSU's deficit to 68-56 with 7:37 left in the game.

After Benedict went up by 16, Savannah State rallied to make the score 72-64 with 4:37 showing on the clock.

Following a shot by Benedict which put them back up by double digits, the Lady Tigers responded by scoring the next seven points to slice their deficit to 74-71 but they would not be able to get any closer.

Savannah State ended the game shooting 53.4 from the field and 57.1 from beyond the arc. SSU hurt themselves with a 5-for-13 performance from the free throw line and 26 turnovers.

Thornton had 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals while Harper added 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. 

Hicks finished with 14 points and five rebounds and Sanai Chisholm chipped in ten points.

Haylee Malcum added nine rebounds, eight points, two blocks, two steals and two assists. Makaila Johnson scored five points and had eight rebounds and three steals.

Savannah State (6-7, 5-7 SIAC) will look to stop their five-game slid on January 17 when they visit Edward Waters at 2 p.m.

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