Courtesy: Benedict Athletics
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Benedict College women’s basketball team made eight-of-12 free throws in overtime to defeat Paine College 82-78 on Monday night at the HEAL Complex.
The Lady Tigers won their ninth game in a row to improve to 15-7 overall and 11-1 in the SIAC. Paine falls to 8-12 overall and 5-7 in the SIAC.
Destiny Betts, ranked third in NCAA Division II in rebounds per game, had her fifth game with 20 or more rebounds, and her 12thdouble-double of the season with 16 points and 22 rebounds. Simone Roberts scored a team-high 22 points. Three other Lady Tigers scored in double figures with Shanaissa White scoring 14 points, Shirvel Luke added 12 points and Zairra Harris contributed 10 points.
Paine had a 69-66 lead with a minute left in regulation, but Harris hit two free throws with 49 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to one point. Paine’s Janisha Wilkerson made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left to give the Lady Lions a 70-68 lead. Harris grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on the put-back to tie the contest and send the game into overtime.
Benedict broke a 72-72 tie in overtime by hitting three of four free-throws. Benedict got a fast-break layup by White for a 77-74 lead and Benedict then hit four straight free throws for an 81-74 lead with 48 seconds left.
Simiria Huggins led Paine with 26 points, while Tierra Boykin added 21 points.
Benedict travels to Orangeburg on Feb. 15 for a game with rival Claflin University.
