Benedict Lady Tigers Edge Claflin In Overtime, 61-55

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Terri Jacobs scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help lead the 16^th-ranked Benedict College Lady Tigers to a 61-55 overtime victory over Claflin University on Saturday, avenging their loss in Orangeburg two weeks ago.

Benedict improves to 22-2 overall and 12-2 in the SIAC and clinched the top spot in the SIAC East Division for the 2016 SIAC Tournament. Claflin dropped to 15-10 overall and 10-5 in the SIAC.

Claflin's Ashley Fields tied the game at 49 with 2:32 left to play in the fourth quarter, then the Lady Panthers missed two field goals and two free throws, while Benedict missed two field goals down the stretch. In overtime, Claflin pulled ahead 53-51 with 2:35 on the clock. A jumper by Jacobs tied the game at 53. Regime McCombs then hit six consecutive free throws to give Benedict a 59-53 lead with 12 seconds left. Two more free throws by Dorothy Brown gave the Lady Tigers a 61-53 lead before Claflin got a jumper by Briana Chisolm with six seconds left for the final score.

McCombs finished with 11 points.

Shaniece Brown led Claflin with 16 points.

The Lady Tigers had a 14-13 lead after the first quarter. A layup by DaVontaye Merritt with 20 seconds left before the half gave Benedict a 32-25 lead at the break. Benedict scored the first eight points in the third quarter to take its largest lead of the game, 40-25, after a layup by Jacobs with 6:12 left in the quarter.

Claflin scored the next 11 points to cut the lead to 40-36 and Benedict took a 42-38 lead heading into the fourth period.

A free-throw by Jacobs gave Benedict a 44-39 lead with 8:47 left in the game, but the Lady Panthers scored the next six points to take their first lead in the second half, 45-44, with 4:34 left to play. After Claflin took a 47-46 lead, KaDeeja Vaughn hit a 3-pointer with 3:37 left to play to give Benedict a 49-47 lead. Claflin then tied the game with a jumper by Ashley Fields to send the game into overtime.

Benedict is back in action with its final home game on Thursday against Clark Atlanta. Benedict will honor its seven seniors.

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