ATLANTA, Ga. – Clark Atlanta hit their only 3-pointer of the game with 36 seconds left and the Lady Panthers held off an upset bid by Benedict with a 67-63 victory on Monday night in a SIAC women’s basketball contest.
Benedict had as much as a seven-point lead, 55-48, early in the fourth quarter, but Clark Atlanta rallied with the next seven points to tie the game. The Lady Tigers took a 63-61 lead with 1:11 on the clock after a layup by Ciara Hardy. Clark Atlanta’s Trinity Jones hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to give the Lady Panthers the lead, and they sealed the game with three free throws in the final 27 seconds. Prior to that, Clark Atlanta had missed all 14 previous 3-point attempts in the game.
Clark Atlanta, the SIAC East Division leader at 12-4 overall and 7-2 in the SIAC, held a 35-29 lead at the half, but Benedict (4-8 overall, 3-5 SIAC) outscored the Lady Panthers 25-13 in the third quarter, using an 11-0 run to take a 45-39 lead. A 3-pointer by Taylor Christmas gave the Lady Tigers their largest lead, 65-46, with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.
Christmas led the Lady Tigers with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Ciara Hardy added 17 points and Alaysia Nash scored 13 points.
Benedict outshot Clark Atlanta 43.4 percent to 31.9 percent, but Benedict committed a season-high 35 turnovers, which the Lady Panthers converted into 26 points off turnovers.
The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday with a home game against Fort Valley State at 1 p.m.
